14 NEW AMERICAN OBCHARDrST. 



of our population seem destined to pass their whole lives- 

 shut up in cities ; excluded, in a measure, from view of all' 

 natural 1 scenes, and forms, and objects, even from light ;: 

 in whose dark abodes dwell commingled both good and bad, 

 God formed the country, Cain first contrived the city,, 

 where felons <Jv/ frfl oblivious, where rest secure; to fear 

 atrxf shame, to hope and kindred dead ; where fiends find 

 "tr&lgfy for. wnpm Jhjti solitude of the country and the tran- 

 ieeAdentbeaut:os.of creation have no charms. It is equally 

 to be regretted that so many of the rich, who, from their 

 abundant resources, are always enabled to reside where 

 they choose, should prefer the imprisoned atmosphere of 

 cities, with all its accompaniments, to the pure and salu^ 

 brious air of the country ; its delightful prospect of 

 mountain, or wide-spread plain, of hill or fertile valley, 

 or river, its crystal fountains and water-brooks, and 

 woods reechoing harmonious sounds, its solitudes and 

 rocks ; anon those hills and dales, those plains and forests 

 clad in enow, and floods of radiant light, and glorious 

 sunshine, the eternal and ever-varying displays of nature, 

 which the rural life affords. 



A science whose pursuits are alike so conducive to the 

 health of the body and of the mind so calculated to 

 render mankind useful, virtuous, and happy has never 

 wanted advocates. It has found them with the best and 

 most enlightened of all ages with every friend to his 

 country and the human race. In our own country, the 

 progress of horticulture has Veen commensurate only with 

 the untiring zeal and successful efforts of a Lowell, a 

 Buel, a Fessenden, and: others, to enlighten and encourage, 

 many of whom have recently gone down to their graves ; 

 l>ut their names will long be cherished in grateful remem- 

 brance. Eminently distinguished also for their zeal, a 

 host in numbers, and renowned in intellect, still live. We 

 hail its wonderful progress. Success to those numerous 

 and powerful societies which have so lately arisen in our 

 land to its aid, and in the equal aid of agriculture ! 



First of all in rank and deeds of fame, the Horticultural 

 Society of Massachusetts deserves of me distinguished 

 notice. To the unwearied researches and enlightened 

 zeal of its first president, General Dearborn, I am greatly 

 indebted for much valuable information, which I have to 

 him accredited in the following pages. In pomological 

 investigation and researches, no man in America has 

 done so much as the late Mr. Robert Manning; to him, 



