2 Retrospective View of the 



in their execution with the outlay of large sums of money, 

 are almost unnoticed amid the general desire which prevails 

 among men of taste for garden structures of a superior 

 construction, and for country residences of a more highly 

 picturesque and architectural character. 



Horticulture, as a science, is yearly acquiring a more 

 elevated rank. It is not now the mere routine of planting, 

 grafting, propagating, forcing, and the dry detail of simple 

 garden operations; it aims rather at a physiological inquiry 

 into the structure, habits and character of vegetation, — de- 

 duces practices from known and simple laws of nature, — 

 traces eflects to their remote cause, — establishes principles 

 upon which all improvements in vegetation can be effected, 

 — opening to the intelligent cultivator new sources of enjoy- 

 ment, from which, by observation and study, he may suc- 

 cessfully till the earth and reap a rich reward for his labors. 



A reference to the past season may not be unimportant ; 

 compared with that of 1811, the temperature was entirely 

 different; the winter months of January, February and 

 March, were unusually mild ; scarcely any snow fell dur- 

 ing that time, and the ground was so open early in March 

 that ploughing could be commenced, and in some warm 

 situations peas were planted. April and May were pleas- 

 ant months, highly favorable for planting early crops. June, 

 however, set in cold, with dull weather and several heavy 

 rains, which gave a severe check to vegetation ; the whole 

 of the month was unusually cool, and vegetation came on 

 very slowly. July was pleasant, however, with occasional 

 refreshing showers, which gave renewed vigor to the crops. 

 August and September were cool again, with an abundance 

 of rain, which much injured stone fruit; from the 10th to 

 the 22d of September, large quantities of rain fell; after 

 that it cleared up, and the whole of October and part of 

 November were the fmest fall months we ever experienced; 

 a cloudless sky, and a genial temperature, continued 

 throughout. The first frost occurred on the 30th of Sep- 

 tember, but it was not severe enough to do any material 

 injury, until about the 15th of October, at which time the 

 corn was cut olf. About the 20th of November cold weath- 

 er commenced, and up to this time (Dec. 10th), it has con- 

 tinued quite cool, with several squalls of snow and rain. 

 The ground is closed with frost, and there does not appear 

 much prospect of its being open again till spring. 



