North American Pomological Convention. 107 



glimpses of the distant ocean, and the bright little town of 

 Essex, between iis and the long line of beach glittering in 

 the sun ; the comfortable homes of the old settlers, nestling 

 in some cozy nook, and looking as demure as if they were 

 of no especial consideration ; yet showing by their weather- 

 beaten exteriors, that many a rude blast and winter storm 

 might attest to the security, Avhich they had, nevertheless, 

 rendered. The air of solid comfort, which most of them 

 exhibited would, however, have been much enhanced by the 

 cultivation of a little of the ornamental. Notwithstanding 

 an increasing attention is evidently paid to the exterior pro- 

 prieties of our country houses, such as the flower bed and 

 the fruit garden, the shrubbery and the shade tree, yet there 

 remains much to be done in this way. There seems to 

 be no reason why every New England village should not 

 compare favorably with some of those prettier hamlets of 

 Old England, about which we read, when a similar taste 

 for what always renders home, however homely it may be, 

 more pleasant to its inmates, and more conducive to refine- 

 ment of manners and excellence of life shall more widely 

 obtain. To effects proceeding from all our institutions 

 for the promotion of the study of natural history and 

 of horticulture, we must look ; and by every proper and 

 available encouragement, enable them to be foremost among 

 the educators of the people ; so that our natural advantages, 

 so profusely scattered around us, even in these barren hills and 

 waste-like plains, may be employed for the noblest and wisest 

 purposes of social industry and its best results. 



Hi?igham, January, 1850. 



Art. II. The North American Pomological Convention, at 

 Syracuse, N. Y. By the Editor. 



The second session of this convention, as we have already 

 announced, came together at Syracuse, on the 14th of Sep- 

 tember last, the day after the New York State Fair. Up- 



