82 



&l)e Jatmtv' s Hlontl)lg JHgttor. 



ADDRESS 



On Horticulture before the Agricultural Society, at 

 Bedlord, .V*. H-, by Rev. 'I'homas Savage, 

 May 28th, 1849. 

 The branch of Agriculture on which I pro- 

 pose to offer a few thought?, is that of gardening, 

 a subject that has not been particularly discussed 

 in our meetings, though well worth the most 

 careful attention. 



In the cultivation of a large farm, this is apt 

 to be passed by, as a matter of minor impor- 

 tance, though a little patch of ground well culti- 

 vated for vegetables and fruits, may be made 

 more productive and profitable than almost any 

 object that employs the farmer's time and in- 

 dustry. 



There is nothing, probably, in which capital 

 may be employed to greater advantage than high 

 cultivation of small parcels of land, let it be ever 

 so sterile and barren by nature. 



Say, in his " Political Economy," speaking of 

 the employment of capital most beneficial to so- 

 ciety, remarks — 



"That portion of capital embarked in domes- 

 tic agriculture, is employed best for the interests 

 of the nation. It enhances the productive power 

 of the land and of the labor of a country. It 

 augments at once the profits of industry and 

 those iif real property. Capital employed under 

 intelligent direction may make barren rocks to 

 bear increase. 



"The Pyrenees in Europe present on every 

 side the view of mountains, once a scene of un- 

 varied sterility, now covered with verdure, and 

 enriched by cultivation. Parts of these rocks 

 have been blasted with gunpowder and the shiv- 

 ered fragments employed in the construction of 

 terraces, one above another, supporting a thin 

 stratum of e&rth, carried thither \>y human labor. 

 In this manner is the barren surface of the rock 

 transformed into shelving platforms richly fur- 

 nished with verdure and teeming with produce 

 and population." 



Thus far this political economist:— And no 

 doubt, if farmers would get into the habit of cul- 

 tivating less ground and cultivating it more tho- 

 roughly, the profit would be much greater. But 

 my object is to treat of a well-cultivated garden. 

 Every farmer should have a garden ; not a mere 

 potato patch covered with weeds, but a garden 

 with flowers and fruits and a generous variety of 

 vegetables. It brings both pleasure and prosper- 

 ity to the family. 



The choice of a spot is of some importance. 

 It is recommended that the garden be on a gen- 

 tle declivity, toward the south, if possible a little 

 eastwarrily inclined, if convenient. If it be a 

 low bottom, the winds have less effect upon it, 

 hut damps and fogs may he injurious to the 

 fruits and herbage. If it be too high situated, 

 violence of the winds will damage the branches, 

 blossoms and fruit. If sheltered from the north- 

 east winds, it would he well to prevent the 

 blighting of plants. Certain it is, that in our 

 climate, in sdecting a garden spot, shelter should 

 be a primary consideration. 



In laying out a new garden, if I could have 

 my choice, I would select a good soil, the deeper 

 the belter, of a mellow, pliable nature, moderate- 

 ly dry in quality. No matter if the surface of 

 the ground is uneven and irregular ; do not be 

 at the trouble to level it. A gentle undulation, 

 a slight swell, is rather an advantage. With re- 

 gal d to the best soil, there may be different opin- 

 ions. Some say, in every garden, there should 

 be two varieties — strong and light, or clayey 

 lo..in and sandy loam — different plants requiring 

 these respective kinds. For common, a loam of 

 middling quality, but rather of the sandy than 

 the clayey is accouuled the best. But let the 



soil be what it will, some dressing every year is 

 desirable ; as it gives quickness to vegetation. 

 In the best gardens on the Mississippi bottoms, I 

 noticed during a recent visit to the South gar- 

 den manure was brought in and applied, as 

 though the land had been weak and poor. 



Spare, if you can, two or three acres for your 

 garden; it will not be too much for vegetables 

 and garden fruit, especially if you cultivate for 

 the market. Besides, you will have room for 

 walks and alleys: if you allow for your main 

 walk six or seven feet, it will not be too much: 

 it would afford an agreeable promenade for your 

 family, and if occasion required, room for a carl 

 to pass. 1 like to see a garden well laid out in 

 this way, a garden uniting the ornamental and 

 the useful. It makes in reality but little work— 

 with sand, brick-rubbish, drippings of stone, gra- 

 vel, &c, you may easily make a permanent and 

 durable walk. In our eager desire to make eve- 

 ry thing tell to most profit, we are apt to neglect 

 those little improvements that really add much 

 to the happiness of life. I like to see some taste 

 manifested about the house, the garden, the out- 

 buildings and the farm generally : it does not 

 cost much, and it speaks well for the neatness 

 and good sense of the owner. In passing 

 through some parts of New England, the eye is 

 delighted not only with fertile, plains and rich 

 meadows, but neat walks, rows of shade trees, 

 &c. We have yet to learn, that utility and beau- 

 ty are by no means incompatible, and that rural 

 enjoyment may grow up by the side of agricul- 

 tural wealth. 



In the laying out of a garden, if you allow for 

 long beds, you gain an advantage for convenient 

 ploughing. With a light plough, drawn by a 

 single horse, you may easily cultivate your gar- 

 den, ploughing through its whole length, say 

 parallel to the great main walk just mentioned — 

 then your cross-paths — according to your taste 

 and convenience. 



It is recommended great pains should be ta- 

 ken to plough deep and manure well, if it be not 

 already rich — dried thoroughly if inclined to 

 moisture. Want of attention to these points 

 has prevented many from having productive 

 gardens, when sufficient labor has been bestow- 

 ed otherwise. 



In the enclosure of gardens, great dependence 

 is placed in some countries on high walls, not 

 only for protection from depredation, hut also to 

 hasten the progress of vegetation. For a high 

 white-washed wall, it is said, will make a differ- 

 ence of six degrees of latitude or two or three 

 weeks in getting vegetables and fruits into mar- 

 ket. 



In such a granite country as ours, we have 

 stone enough generally for walls, both for the 

 garden and the farm; but in the want of these 

 and even when they can he obtained, a hedge of 

 hawthorn or other shrub makes a very pretty 

 enclosure. Some plantations at the South em- 

 bracing hundreds of acres are enclosed entirely 

 and effectually by a hedge of what is called 

 Cherokee rose, a luxuriant briery rose-hush that 

 grows very thick and full, and keeps out every 

 thing but birds that fly over it, and snakes 

 that will wind their way through every thing. 



(laving mentioned birds, 1 would just say that 

 they are useful in destroying bugs, ami other 

 vermin so injurious to plants. Dr. Barton, in his 

 Natural History of Pennsylvania, observes that 

 insects appear to be the first food of all birds of 

 our country. Almost all birds live in some mea- 

 sure on insects, and in this way often protect cab- 





bages, beans, peas, melons, cucumbers, squash-A 

 vines and other vegetation in the garden. The 

 vegetables of a whole garden may perhaps ht 

 preserved from depredations of different species 

 of insects, by the feathered tribes who fill the air 

 with their melodies. 1 should be sorry to de-. 

 stroy them. Even the crow is useful — he may 

 destroy a few hills of corn on your farm, but de- 

 removes the materials of disease in the putrid 

 substances he consumes. I have doubted the I 

 wisdom of that legislation that gives a bounty 

 for killing the crow. The turkey-buzzard is the 

 scavenger of the South; and so useful is he con- 

 sidered in this office, that instead of a bounty for 

 his head, a fine in some States is or was imposed' 

 for killing him. 



Willi regard to vegetables, the gentlemen* 9 

 address could belter instruct me, than the speak- , 

 er enlighten them. Situated as we are, in the 

 vicinity of a growing market, it will be more* 

 and more an object to have vegetables early. 

 Some plants may be much hastened by being I 

 started in pots or other suitable vessels in a 

 warm room. I tried the last year with the tomtf~' 

 to, or rather through the kindness of a towns- 

 man I obtained some plants, and should have 

 had an abundant and early supply, had it not " 

 been for a remarkable early frost and neglect to 

 do what I have since seen recommended — re- 

 move the rank large leaves from the branches of 

 fruit to accelerate the ripening. 



Early potatoes is an object of importance. [ 

 know that raising of potatoes is considered the 

 business of the farm ; but a patch in the garden ' 

 for early potatoes ought io be found. It is said 

 thai early plantings of the earlier kind have not 

 as yet suffered from disease. So that a double, 

 object will be answered — sound poiatoes and nil 

 early supply of the market. With regard to 

 carries, 1 would quote from an English publica- 

 tion : 



" For the original production of the varieties 

 called earlier, we are indebted to the kitchen giw- 

 deners near Manchester. Enconrgeri by the de- 

 mand of that populous town, they vie with eacii 

 other to have poiatoes first in the market. They 

 noted those plants that flowered early, saved 

 them, and sowed their seed. By again watching 

 the earliest of these, they procured varieties* 

 which arrive so much sooner at a stale ap- 

 proaching maturity, thatynung potatoes may he- 

 had for the table two months after plaining. 

 The most productive of them and least apt to 

 degenerate, are such as do not show a disposi- 

 tion to flower." 



This plan of procuring early potatoes may be 

 practicable, but would hardly apply to stone- 

 fruit, if it be true, as 1 have heard with regard 

 to the peach, that some peach trees that blossG'.li 

 latest produce the earliest fruit. 



With regard to saving seed for garden pro- 

 duce, it is the advice of an experienced gard- 

 ener — lay out for ten limes as murh as it is 

 thought will be needed. Many accidents from 

 storms, insects, &c, happen ; and whatever may 

 be above the wants of the garden it will be a 

 pleasure to supply the wauls of your neighbors.. 



It is a good tiring to pay attention to herbs. 

 Have your camomile bed, sage, &c— gather in 

 the fall and put away securely in a paper, and 

 mark the paper. It is excellent to have oil hand 

 in case of sudden colds or oilier indisposition. 



Asparagus is an early esculent of value. Tae 

 appropriate soil for this vegetable is a black, freft 

 or sandy loam, marie rich hy an abundant addi- 

 tion of manure. The subsoil should be such .••,!) 

 to let thi reely, while the topsoil 



should be tolerably reteutive of moisture. The 



