TRANSACTIONS OP THE MASS. HORT. SOCIETY. 281 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE MASS. HORTICULT. SOCIETY. 



FRENCH METHOD OF PRESERVING FRUITS. 



" Civilization bids us mingle the ornamental with the useful ; and the pleasures of 

 the eye, although not so indispensable, arc of a much more refined nature than tliose 

 of the mouth." 



If any one doubt the truth of this sentiment, so well expressed in these 

 " Transactions," let him but ask himself where his lady-love would be seen with, 

 greatest force of attraction — tending her tulips and training honeysuckles, or 

 munching the most aromatic and delicious fruit that ever grew ? But our thanks 

 are due, in the first place, to the distinguished President of the Society, for a 

 copy of this specimen of their Transactions — published, as all such works should 

 be, in a style worthy of the beautiful art to which they are dedicated. Beautiful 

 as this volume is, however, it seems to have not yet satisfied the just pride of the 

 Society ; and, in truth, in respect of the chromolithing process employed in the 

 exhibition of the flowers and fruits v/ith which the work is embellished, although 

 the best display of that process which has fallen under our notice, it is not in its 

 present state to be relied on, to realize the design of those who arrange these 

 Transactions, and who seem to judge that nothing has been well done which can 

 be done any better. Hence the Trustees intimate a determination not only to 

 bring out their subsequent volumes in a superior style, but that the plates now 

 given shall be reproduced, with every practicable improvement. 



Referring first to what it has ever been our disposition to hold up for example 

 in all such cases, we have to notice the fine, liberal spirit which has ever prompt- 

 ed the members of this Institution, both as a body and individually, to stimulate 

 and encourage the formation and the success of all such associations in other 

 parts of the country — rightly judging, contrary to the feeling and practice of some 

 similar Associations, that there are cases in which a common public good is best 

 proro.oted by honorable and extended rivalry, and the wide diflusion of appropri- 

 ate knowledge. 



After arguing that Floriculture may eventually become an object as well of 

 profit as of amusement, and suggesting the patronage of it as a suitable object to 

 attract the surplus wealth of the tasteful and opulent, a striking fact is adduced 

 to show the commercial value into which the products of Floriculture may be 

 made to grow, as in the case of the two exquisite seedling Camellias— the " Ca- 

 mellia Wilderii," and the " Camellia Mrs. Abbt Wilder,"— the figures of 

 which adorn the volume before us. These were obtained in the conservatory 

 of the President, M. P. Wilder, Esq., by the persevering application of the art 

 of hybridization laid down by Herbert. Mr. W. sold his stock of these two 

 seedlings to J. L. L. F. Warren, for $1,000, and Mr. Warren has since nearly 

 tripled that amount for them in Europe. But we have no room for more re- 

 marks, even if they were needed to hold up the enlightened management and 

 choice fruits of this Association to the emulation of men of taste and means 

 throughout the country. The love of Horticulture, with which sordid ideas of 

 gain are not usually associated, may not be so easily imbibed in a country where 

 the " almighty dollar," as Irvmg calls it, is the object of universal and eao-er 



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