may not be unprofitable, or seem a waste of time. For its 

 hisfeory is the history of Horticulture in our couutry. As 

 a science and an art it was then scarcely recognized ; and 

 Pomology, at least, was unknown. A few varieties of 

 fruits, a meagre number of flowers, and a scanty supply 

 of vegetables filled our gardens, or found a place in our 

 markets. How much have the united labors of your mem- 

 bers, and others engaged in Horticulture, changed all this ! 

 What Pomological riches are now brought before an appre- 

 ciative public ! How vast the beautiful acquisitions of our 

 greenhouses and gardens, how diversified the trees and 

 shrubs of our pleasure grounds and villa residences, 

 and how great the variety of our culinary vegetables ! 

 To attempt to set any value upon all these improvements 

 would be " ridiculous excess." Well may we exclaim with 

 one of our humble poets, whose pen was principally de- 

 voted to the advancement of rural industry, 



"Hail, Horticulture! Heaven ordained, 



Of every art the source, 

 VThich man has polished, life sustained. 



Since time commenced his course. 

 Where waves thy wonder-working wand, 



What splendid scenes disclose ! 

 The blasted heath, the arid strand^ 



Out bloom the gorgeous rose ! " 



But while we may, with perfect justice, claim the ac- 

 complishment of so much, and while our efforts have been 

 directed to a continued progress in every department of 

 Horticulture and Rural art, we must not neglect to award 



