156 



Ag. Soc. of Prince George Co., Md. 



Vol. XI. 



The study of the organic laws of nature, 

 of the culture of fruits, flowers and vegeta- 

 bles, should be familiar to all. It is a say- 

 ing of old, that he who succeeds in making 

 two blades of grass grow where but one 

 grew before, merits the appellation of bene- 

 factor. The same doctrine will apply with 

 equal force in reference to the introduction 

 and cultivation of valuable fruits and vege- 

 tables. The sails of commerce which whiten 

 the ocean, may bring back riches for the 

 merchant. The name of the philosopher 

 who makes discoveries in the abstract sci- 

 ences, will be handed down through succes- 

 sive ages. And even immortality will be 

 acquired by the military chieftan who has 

 distinguished himself by the extermination 

 of thousands of his fellow beings. But all 

 this is "the bubble reputation," and when 

 compared with the names of the true phi- 

 lanthropist and benefactor — those who have 

 made valuable improvements in horticulture 

 and agriculture — should sink into the shade. 

 But we rejoice to say a new era is dawning 

 upon us. A taste for these pursuits is per- 

 vading the whole Union. Every grade ot 

 society is becoming interested — and we hail 

 it as a happy omen of progressive refine- 

 ment. The possession of wealth is not ne- 

 cessary to their enjoyment. The pictur- 

 esque scenery; the varied landscape, and 

 the fragrance of the sweetest flowers, can 

 be enjoyed by those in humbler walks of 

 life. The beauties of Flora and the boun- 

 ties of Pomona are within the reach of the 

 humblest cottager. Says Lord Bacon, "God 

 first planted a garden ; and indeed it is the 

 purest of human pleasures; it is the great- 

 est refreshment to the spirits of man ; with- 

 out which buildings and palaces are but 

 gross handy works." 



In the departments of floriculture and or- 

 namental gardening, we find many persons 

 who recoil at the mere mention of them 

 They oppose them on the ground of yielding 

 no revenue, as if the only design in our 

 creation was the accumulation of wealth. 

 But shall we reject those pursuits which are 

 so well calculated to soften the asperities of 

 our nature, and which have been the choice 

 of the virtuous and enlightened from time 

 immemorial. There is no surer evidence of 

 cultivated taste, or of rural happiness, than 

 we see in those floral ornaments, whether 

 appended to the humble cottage or to the 

 splendid palace. Nature, in the display of 

 her inimitable floral gems, will always af- 

 ford a fascinating employment. No pursuit 

 is more congenial with female character, 

 or tends more to elevate and refine it. In 

 the shades of rural retirement, her virtues 



expand ; woman is rendered more lovely, 

 and domestic happiness is consummated. 



To afford you occular proof of the won- 

 derful achievements of horticulture, I would 

 refer you to our large cities and their sur- 

 rounding country. Their markets are crowd- 

 ed with the choicest fruits, flowers, culinary 

 productions, and ornamental plants in count- 

 less profusion. Their environs studded with 

 villa residences, elegant gardens, ornament- 

 al grounds, conservatories and graperies — 

 affording comforts and luxuries to millions, 

 and profits to tens of thousands. 



The introduction of new and valuable 

 fruits seems to be an absorbing subject with 

 Pomologists throughout the civilized world, 

 and it is certain that nothing contributes in 

 a more eminent degree to the comforts of 

 the consumer, or affords a greater profit to 

 the cultivator. Ripe fruits are healthful, 

 light, nutritious, and of easy digestion; pro- 

 ducing a chyle admirably adapted to the 

 functions of the human body. From the 

 qualities which they possess, their habitual 

 use, according to Mr. Knight, destroys tbe 

 artificial appetite for strong fermented li- 

 quors and the preparations for alcohol. But 

 to go into a classification of the various 

 fruits of standard excellence, and to give 

 directions for their cultivation, would re- 

 quire a volume. For all necessary informa- 

 tion, I refer you to the works of Lindley, 

 Thatcher, Kenrick, Downing, and Hovey's 

 invaluable Magazine of Horticulture. 



Loudon, Lindley and Knight of England, 

 and Van Mons of Belgium, by their unwea- 

 ried labours and profound researches in Po- 

 mology, have left enduring monuments to 

 their memories. Knight and Van Mons in 

 establishing their respective theories, have 

 originated more valuable fruits within the 

 last forty years, than had been done previ- 

 ously by the whole world during a period of 

 twenty centuries. Knight's plan was ac- 

 complished by cross fertilization. The pol- 

 len or fertilizing powder is delicately re- 

 moved from one flower and transferred to 

 some tree bearing flowers strongly related 

 to the first, and is there carefully placed 

 upon the summit of the pistillum in the 

 flower intended to be fertilized. This pre- 

 pared flower is then protected with thin 

 muslin or gauze, to exclude the bee or in- 

 sects which would otherwise frustrate the 

 process. The seed produced from these hy- 

 bridized fruit are carefully saved and plant- 

 ed, and according to the qualities of the pa- 

 rents, you obtain new and valuable varieties. 



The immense collection of fruits added to 

 our lists by the indefatigable labours of Van 

 Mons, has been astonishing. His theory for 



