Middlesex Horticultural Society. 167 



beneficial object of its institution, '■'■ instructive pleasure." 

 The errors and mistakes, sometimes the intentional frauds of 

 nurseries and fruit establishments, for instance, have caused 

 serious damage to the cause of fruit-growing. "We must 

 have correct names, or we will not run the risk of such ex- 

 pense in purchasing." This is the justifiable language of our 

 agricultural friends, and it behooves every such society as 

 ours, to remedy the evil. 



Could fifty dollars or more per annum, be devoted to the 

 purchase of suitable works, for the more particular use of 

 committees, and others entrusted with the immediate inter- 

 est of the Society, in a short time a very valuable library might 

 be in a state of formation. In botany, we want Loudon's 

 Encyclopmdia of Plants; Florula Boslonicnsis^ third edition; 

 Torrey's Flora of JVortk America, publishing in numbers, a 

 work indispensable, and an ornament to our country's science; 

 Hovey's Magazine of Horticulture^ in which are most useful 

 articles on the general subject of horticulture, and many of 

 Manning's articles on fruit; 'M^nn\n^''s Book of Fruits; Ken- 

 rick's Jlmerican Orchardist; Coxe on Fruit Trees, (scarce 

 and rare,) &c., &c. 



In entomology, the valuable State Report of Dr. Harris 

 should be attentively read: and in vegetable chemistry, the 

 works of Davy and Chaptal. 



Other fine works on the general subject could be suggested, 

 and some of standard merit. Loudon's Jlrboretum Britan- 

 nicum is worthy the perusal of every lover of forest trees: 

 and his Suburban and Villa Gardener will introduce our fair 

 friends to the gardens and labors of their British sisters, in 

 the engaging pursuits of floriculture. 



It is much to be regretted, that the means and pursuits of 

 this country are as yet unfavorable to the pubHcation of simi- 

 lar works of our own science. We need, very much, treatises 

 on American horticulture, and which will pertain to our own 

 interests. In this condition of such a deficiency, we must 

 look to such societies as ours for the experiments of their 

 members. Detailed accounts of successful culture would be 

 of exceeding value, coming from the pens of practical men. 

 Perhaps it may be far distant when the IMiddlesex Horticul- 

 tural Society publishes its annals, but the preparation for such 

 a step would be advisable. Every item any individual can 

 add to the general mass of information, may hereafter place on 

 an equal footing with that of other countries, the horticulture of 



