STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 85 



or whatever is grown by it, while at the same time it enters into 

 combination with other arts that delight the senses, and afford 

 some of the grandest and most pleasurable emotions of which the 

 mind has any perception. Sculpture and the plastic arts, as well 

 as architecture, are aids to horticulture, and in return horticulture 

 is used to develop their beauties and the results which their artists 

 desire to reach. 



But it is only when we consider horticulture in all its connec- 

 tions with several sciences, that we begin to learn how conipre- 

 sive is its nature, and understand the reasons why it exerts such 

 a general influence. 



Horticulture has its great divisions, which stand in intimate re- 

 lationship to each other, each of which alone has formed studies 

 for her disciples. 



The first division of horticultural science which is apt to engage 

 the attention of a people emerging from a state of settlement is 

 pomology, or the science of the growth of fruits. Only a sub- 

 division of pomology is possible to most fruit growers, because it 

 is closely connected with agriculture. The subdivision to which 

 we refer is therefore commonly known as the orchard, which in- 

 cludes sfenply the growing of all fruits in the most natural mariner, 

 and with the least artificial assistance. 



But pomology in its more extended sense comprehends all theory 

 and practice connected with the growing of fruits. Hence, its 

 science comprises : 



1. The nature, description and nomenclature of all fruits, and 

 their botanical position. 



2. The propagation of fruits and the method of raising new 

 varieties. 



3. A knowledge of. .vegetable physiology, which includes 

 botany. 



4. A knowledge of soils and their adaptation to the growth of 

 fruits, which includes chemistry. ^, 



5. A knowledge of the history and origin of each kind of fruit, 

 which includes its native habits, and its geographical distribu- 

 tion. 



6. The vineries and orchard houses, and the principles of heat- 

 ing and ventilation. 



The practice of Pomology comprises : 



1. The growing of seedlings and transplating. 



2. The methods of grafting, inoculating, pruning and inarching. 



3. The laying out of orchards and their treatment. 



4. The care of the fruit crop, and its preparation for mai'ket. 



5. The treatment of vineries and orchard houses. 



6. The management of espaliers and wall fruits. 



T. The gi'owing and forcing of foreign plants and vegetables 

 with the aid of artificial heat and shelter. 



As Pomology is that division of horticulture which in this State 

 has received the greatest attention, and is one of the most interest 

 to the people, I have given it the most prominent position.. You 

 will readily see from the enumeration, that it opens a wide enough 

 field, and that there is much of the ground unoccupied. 



