:566 I ASSEMBLT 



of the imported fruit trees for many successive generations, and 

 from time to time obtained a great many varieties, the best of which 

 they multiplied by grafting; so that in the course of ages, the 

 fruits became materially different from those of the several preceding 

 ages. 



The gardeners of the Hesperides, and of Semirarais, excited 

 the admiration of the ancients. Dioclesian preferred the garden 

 which he had made at Salona, to the empire of the world. 



Epicurus was the first who made a garden in the city of Athens, 

 and he taught (says Pliny,) the art of enjoying the country in the 

 midst of cities. 



Among the earliest writers on gardening, in modern times, Quin- 

 tinie is celebrated. He made the vegetable garden at Versailles 180 

 years ago. His work on fruit trees, printed in 1680, contains ex- 

 cellent things. After him appears Duharael, of Monceau, styled The 

 Immortal. He gained the Horious title of Father of Agriculture! 

 He was born in Paris, nOO. At 28 years of age, a member of the 

 Royal Academy of Sciences; died at 82 years of age. His treatise 

 on fruit trees is a fundamental work, of absolute necessity, to all 

 those who wish to understand the subject of fruit and its culture. 



August 15, 1848. 



S. C. Hill, in the Chair; Henrv Meigs, Secretary 



Mr. Meigs — Mr. I. D. Abbot, who resides at No. 363 Atlantic 

 street, Brooklyn, called this morning and stated that about eight 

 years ago, he took three offsets or suckers from the roots of a plum 

 tree, and set them out at his place. They each had some small roots. 

 At four years they began to bear fruit. His servant has been for 

 some time in the habit of sifting the hard coal ashes of the house 

 about one of these plum trees, without thinking or caring for the 

 tree. The bed of ashes is now about one foot deep, and extends 

 about six feet in every direction from the root of the tree. This tree 

 bears a full crop of perfect fruit, scarcely a single one falling off 

 The other two trees have not a dozen plums between them. 



Dr. James D. Phelps, of No. 309 Mulberry street, exhibited small 

 branches of a hickory tree, which are closely covered with excres- 



