CHAPTER III. 

 THE SCIENCE OF GARDEKIXG, 



G-ardening, as pursued in its higher sense, is both 

 an art and a science. It has arrived at this estate by 

 slow gradations, compared with the development of 

 many other pursuits, but that is consequent upon its 

 complex nature. The development of a knowledge of 

 geology, chemistry, meteorology, vegetable physiology 

 and botany, indeed, something from all branches of 

 human knowledge, has gone to perfect the science of 

 agriculture and horticulture ; pursuits affording as wide 

 a range of research in their ramifications as any subject 

 engaging the mind of man, and fully as important in 

 their results. Agriculture, though practiced in early 

 days without any correct knowledge of cause and effect, 

 was always held in high esteem. Columella, contempo- 

 rary with Virgil, wrote, "The art of husbandry is so 

 necessary for the support of human life, and the com- 

 fortable subsistence and happiness of mankind have so 

 great a dependence upon it, that the wisest men in all 

 ages have ascribed its origin to God, as the inventor and 

 ordainer of it, and the wisest of civilized nations, who 

 have best understood their true interests, have always 

 endeavored to promote and improve it, and have never 

 failed to acknowledge and honor, as public benefactors, 

 all such as have contributed anything towards the same." 

 In colonial days our forefathers were almost entirely 

 dependent upon agriculture. Washington, in his agri- 

 cultural correspondence with Sir John Sinclair, wrote, 

 "It will not be doubted that, in reference either to indi- 



