23 



It is to be noticed as another prominent characteristic 

 of the horticulture of this era, that the enjoyment of 

 flowers is not confined to those who cultivate them as 

 luxuries of the green-house and conservatory. The 

 yearly increasing market for flowers evidences a wide- 

 spread taste for them in the community ; while the 

 multiplication of cheap glass structures for their pro- 

 duction strikes every one who makes the slightest in- 

 quiry into the progress of horticulture. Equally striking 

 is the fact that large quantities of forced roses, and other 

 green-house flowers produced by the skill of our florists, 

 are sent by them to distant parts of the country, whose 

 natural advantages are far superior to ours. But we 

 believe that the disadvantages under which we labor are 

 more than counterbalanced by the stimulus which they 

 have given to cultivators ; for it is conceded that hor- 

 ticulture as an art is carried to higher pefection in 

 Massachusetts than in any other part of our country. 



"■ But ever on the bleakest rock 



AVe bid the brightest beacon glow, 

 And still upon the thorniest slock 

 The sweetest roses love to blow. 



So, on our rude and wintr}' soil 

 We feed the kindling flame of art, 



And steal the tropic's blushing spoil 

 To bloom on Nature's ic}' heart." 



In the fruit department we seem to have approached 

 more nearly to the limit of improvement, and our culti- 

 vators are exacting in their requirements of a new can- 

 didate for a place in their gardens or orchards ; yet we 

 must not omit that extraordinary pear, the Souvenir du 

 CongTeS, the seedlings of Messrs. Clapp (particularly the 

 fine variety named in memory of Frederick Clapp), the 

 many seedlings by Dr. Shurtleff, Mr. Dana, and others, 

 Mr. Fenno's Norfolk cherry ; the new strawberries and 



