34 Review of Mass. Hort. Soc. Anniversary Discourse. 



last season, it abounds with correct views and sound opinions, 

 of the importance of the study of horticulture, and its useful- 

 ness to the physical wants of mankind. It should be read 

 by every horticulturist, and, as the society has a sufficient 

 number of copies to supply every member graluitonsly, we 

 hope they will not lose tlie opportunity of applying for one. 

 To those persons at a distance, the secretary is, we believe, 

 directed to send copies when called upon to do so. We are 

 anxious to have it extensively read, as we are convinced 

 it will be found to contain much that is worthy of being- 

 treasured up by the lover of gardening. 



We have but little room to spare for extracts, or we should 

 be happy to point out some of the most valuable portions to 

 our rearlers, and also offer some observations upon some 

 parts of it, which, if we do not materially differ from Mr. 

 Russell in the opinions he expresses, we do not exactly 

 agree. 



We cannot, however, pass over one important subject 

 which Mr. Russell bas touched upon, namely, the correcting 

 the nomenclature of fruits. With some observations on the 

 institution of an experimental garden, he concludes: 



" There is, perhaps, no branch of horticulture which needs so much 

 correction as does tiiis. Owing to various practices, our catalogues of 

 fruits are but so many lists of misnomers and long standing errors. It 

 is the duty of scientific institutions, like our own, to correct this abuse. 

 Much has already been done in England, but much more remains to be 

 accomplished. In no better place, nor under no more propitious cir- 

 cumstances, could this be effected, than by our efforts. By critical ex- 

 amination, conducted on the true principlesof vegetable organography — 

 by the comparison of living specimens, an experimental garden affords 

 every assistance. The effect of soil, exposure, and each modifying acci- 

 dent, which influence the productions of fruit, could be thoroughly ana- 

 lyzed. A correct list, suitable for cultivation, not only of our own, but 

 of other countries, might be formed ; a single item, worthy in itself of 

 united labor and enterprise. The promotion of that spirit of improve- 

 ment, which elevates the standard of taste for the excellent and beauti- 

 ful by an attention to rural stuilies, is at all times highly commendable ; 

 but the promotion of the spirit of utility should surely be combined 

 with it." 



We have loner been convinced of the fact, that the cata- 

 logues of our nurserymen have contained numerous errors ; 

 and we state this beca\ise we believe Mr. Russell has been 

 thought, by some nurserymen, to have been too sweeping in 

 his remark, that these catalogues were "but so many lists of 

 misnomers." We repeat, that too little attention has been 

 given to this most important subject, and that a catalogue 

 has always been considered as so many kinds, rather than 

 so many truly named valuable varieties. We do not lay this 

 fault to our own nurserymen, some of whom may have 

 taken exception to the language of Mr. Russell, for we be- 

 lieve them to have no interested motive for so doing. These 



