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HANDBOOK OF CONNECTICUT AGRICULTURE. 



the intelligence of its founder, but the increasing love of 

 flowers through the community. 



And we are only in the beginning. The era of universal 

 barrenness and ugliness is past ; the new one of universal 

 beauty is not yet here, but it is coming, and no class of men 

 will do more to hasten its advent than those who grow flow- 

 ers and place them within the reach of everybody. 



REV. MAGEE PRATT, Hartford. 



THE NEW CANAAN NURSERY. 

 STEPHEN HOYT'S SONS. 



Established in 1848 by Stephen Hoyt of New Canaan 

 and David C. Scofield of Mexico, N M Y. In 1853 Mr. Scofield 

 sold out to his two sons, Lewis and Rufus. In 1856 Mr. 

 Hoyt bought out their interests and took in as partners his 

 two sons, Edwin and James. Mr. Stephen Hoyt died in 

 1879. The firm name was then changed to Stephen Hoyt's 

 Sons. At first the business was confined to fruit trees and 

 small fruits ; later enlarged to embrace also forest and 

 ornamental trees, shrubs, and plants. The farm now con- 

 tains five hundred acres over two hundred in nursery. 

 Stone were abundant and the soil impoverished. The fields 

 have been cleared, drained, and by judicious fertilization and 

 culture the soil is very productive. The stock consists of 

 forty head of neat cattle and eighteen horses ; men employed 

 in the busy season one hundred, the rest of the year, fifty. 

 This is the largest nursery in New England and is celebrated 

 for the quality of the stock. The Green Mountain Grape,., 

 the earliest good grape, and the October purple plum are 

 some of their introductions. They have an orchard of 

 peaches of twenty acres and are preparing to plant apples on 

 a large scale. Stephen, son of Edwin Hoyt, is also a member 

 of the firm. 



