GARDEN WRITINGS IN AMERICA 83' 



periodical is the great engine for opening up and developing new 

 lines of interest. From a strictly garden viewpoint the periodical 

 publications of the past can be reviewed very quickly, for all the 

 earlier journals regarded agriculture as their prime interest and 

 merely permitted horticulture and gardening to trail along in their 

 obscure little corners. 



There have been only three or four publications with general, 

 broad garden sympathies. The Floral Magazine began in Phila- 

 delphia in 1823, and contained colored plates of various ornamental 

 plants. Report says that it was discontinued because it did not 

 pay. It was conducted by the Landreths, nurserymen and seeds- 

 men, as indeed were various subsequent periodicals devoted to 

 plants, flowers, and gardens, evidently in the nature of altruistic 

 contributions by commercial establishments made with the idea of 

 extending and promoting the interests of the business in which 

 they were directly engaged. 



The Horticultural Register, supported by Joseph Breck, began 

 in 1835 in Boston, as also did Hovey's publication. The American 

 Gardener's Magazine, which soon becoming The Magazine of Horti- 

 culture and continuing until 1868, remains as one of the most 

 interesting publications of the country. Thus to Boston again is 

 added one more honor. Hovey was a nurseryman. 



In 1846 appeared the first number of the next important publica- 

 tion, Downing's Horticulturist, in every way a splendid publication, 

 reflecting adequately the best horticultural spirit of its period. 

 This publication started as a little stream and, appearing in differ- 

 ent forms in different cities, gradually grew in importance and 

 received as tributaries numerous other publications. The Horti- 

 culturist can be traced in direct line of descent, with its- absorptions, 

 clear down to American Gardening, the publication that ceased to 

 exist in 1904. It was edited successively by A. J. Downing, 

 Patrick Barry, A. J. Smith, Peter B. Mead, and G. B. Woodward, 

 names sufficiently well known in the horticultural and gardening 

 annals of this country. Naturally, it began with a strong leaning 

 towards pomology and gradually swung over towards the develop- 

 ment of private grounds and the embellishment of gardens, con- 

 siderable attention being paid to ornamental plants, trees, and 

 shrubs. The Gardener's Monthly began in Philadelphia in 1859 



