VEGETABLE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. 57 



will be requisite, and perhaps lead to further improvements in the art of hot- 

 bed culture. 



Still the Committee cannot say that their efforts have not received due en- 

 couragement when it has been in the power of their horticultural friends to 

 cooperate with them. On the contrary, during the past eight years that the 

 chairmanship has devolved upon the undersigned, they have experienced the 

 most gratifying success in commending to the attention of American agricul- 

 turists at large the most valuable products of the vegetable kingdom, the re- 

 sults of the most enlightened research in the selection and propagation of 

 varieties, and the most approved modes of cultivation. In discharging their 

 official duties, it has been their aim to encourage the growth only of such as, 

 being of tried and recognized merit, and combining the best possible qualities 

 for general cultivation and culinary purposes, go to make up a fine kitchen 

 garden. 



They may remark, in passing, that as a general thing, among small culti- 

 vators, this department is too much confounded with and subordinate to 

 others, space not being allowed for the development of many vegetables, 

 which would be of much finer growth if allotted a due proportion of soil for 

 nourishment, and favored by the full action of light and air. Besides, there 

 is often too little attention given to the identification of varieties, and the 

 study of their distinctive characteristics, by failing to mark their locality with 

 the name and time of planting; thus leading to great confusion of ideas and 

 erroneous conclusions. A full record of all the accessories of a plant is ab- 

 solutely necessary to determine whether it is worthy of cultivation a second 

 season. In fact, a thorough knowledge of varieties, as to the quality of 

 product, time of maturity, adaptation to soil and climate, &c., is just as essen- 

 tial to success in the management of the kitchen, as of the fruit and flower 

 garden. 



As an instance of the great public benefits sometimes accruing from the 

 Society's operations through this department, we may refer to the American 

 history of the Chinese Sugar Cane. This valuable acquisition to the country's 

 stock of agricultural products was first introduced here but a few years since; 

 and it was in a great measure owing to the encouragement afforded by the 

 Society, and the attention given by some of its members, to the development 

 of an experimental knowledge of its properties, that its general culture was 

 finally introduced and established. Though it proved of no great utility as a 

 staple product in this section of the country, its successful and extensive cul- 

 ture in the West at the present day may be traced directly to the incentive 

 given by associations of this kind. It is to be feared we do not always suffi- 

 ciently appreciate the utilitarian influences which go out from among us, and 

 silently sow the seeds of improvement, which are sometimes slow in germi- 

 nating, simply because we do not immediately realize the fruits of our labor, 

 or because it is finally gathered and enjoyed by others beyond our sphere of 

 action. 



