PROGRESS OF HORTICULTURE. 



373 



PROGRESS OF HORTICTJITTTEE, &c 



The issue of this month is the last of the year, 

 which gives us an opportunity to note the progress 

 of horticulture in this country for the past season. 



At no time has the prospect been so tiattering as 

 at the present. Farmers, owners of lots — in fact all 

 who possess even the smallest piece of land, with a 

 desire for -improvement — are "waking up" through- 

 out the whole country, and are beginning to perceive 

 the benefits of planting with proper management. 



Many years ago it was thought by some that hor- 

 ticulture had reached its height, and that in a very 

 few years orchards would be unprofitable, and much 

 expense suSered in clearing the ground of the worth- 

 less trees. What is the fact ? Throughout our 

 whole country reports come to us of large crops of 

 fruit, and in no section has there been a larger yield 

 than in Western New Tork, except in peaches, 

 which have been a total failure on account of the 

 severity of last winter. 



The price of apples has been very remunerative to 

 the orchardist, varying from seventy-five cents to two 

 dollars per barrel — the finer sorts approximating the 

 latter price — while the same varieties were sold a few 

 years ago at fifty cents to one dollar per barrel. 

 Pears command good piices — Mr Bartletts retailing 

 in the streets at ten cents each. The same remuner- 

 ating prices are obtained for plums, apricots, and the 

 smaller fruits, as strawberries, raspberries, gooseber- 

 ries, grapes, &c. 



But a short time ago good fruits were considered 

 luxuries, and could not be partaken of but by those 

 who possessed considerable means. Now public 

 opinion esteems them among the necessaries of life, 

 and they are bought freely by those of more moder- 

 ate means. Those who possess good cellars would 

 ust as soon omit to lay by a good stock of potatoes 

 Bs they would of apples. 



The more good fruit there is produced, the wider 

 and more profusely it will be disseminated, thus giv- 

 ing a larger portion of community an opportunity to 

 judge of its qualities. The result will be, as is now 

 witncs,«ed, that the price will gradually increase in- 

 crease instead of diminish — the demand exceeding the 

 supply. 



The increased interest in horticultural knowledge 

 manifests itself in various ways, one of which is seen 

 in the great number of horticultural societies which 

 are now in existence, and the more general interest 

 pervading the people in supporting them. We are 

 able to note societies in many parts of the country> 

 wholly unconnected with an agricultural department, 

 which have held exhibitions this season. The Boston 

 Horticultural Society held an exhibition in Music 

 Hall, which was filled by visitors every day and eve- 

 ning for one week; one in New York has recently 

 revived under the most flattering auspices ; one in 

 Brooklyn, recently organized, gives abundant evi- 

 nenee of success ; the Genesee Valley Horticultural 

 Society; one at Philadelphia; one at Cincinnati; 

 one at Louisville; and one at Milwaukie. The North 

 Western Fruit Growers' Association held a session at 

 Burlington, Iowa, which was visited by persons inter- 

 ested in horticulture from all parts of the United 

 States. Besides these, there are many others which 

 are exerting a most beneficial influence through all 

 of our States. Then there is the horticultural de- 

 partment which is attached to each of our State, 

 County, and Town Agricultural Societies. These 

 must produce much good, and exert a most powerful 

 influence in disseminating practical horticultural 

 knowledge among the people, the want of which is 

 so much felt. Already we see the practical work- 

 ings of the desire for better fruit, flowers, &c. It 

 asks for the commencement and enlargement of nur- 

 series throughout the United States. The demand 

 already made upon those that are now in operation, 

 from the north, south, east, and west, for plants suit- 

 able for transplanting, largely exceeds the supply in 

 many cases. 



It is only a matter of surprise that this was not 

 brought about before, from the character of our soil, 

 the different climates, situation, etc., comprised with- 

 in the United States, part of which being well adapted 

 for cultivating, most successfully, almost every variety 

 of fruit, which, when grown with care, and proper 

 attention given, always yields the most profitable 

 returns to the good cultivator. 



Not only in horticulture are there visible signs of 

 advancement, but in floriculture; and we see better 



