196 



NEW ENGLAND FARlVlER. 



Jan. 11, 1828. 



EXTRACTS 



From an Address, to the J^/ew York Horticultural 

 Society. By N. H. Carter. 

 You need not be told, gentlemen, that no coun- 

 try opens so wide a field, and affords so many na- 

 tural advantages, for improvetnents in horticul- 

 ture, as the United States. Between the Alpine 

 regions of the North, and the plains of the South, 

 fanned by the breezes of the tropics — from the 

 fir-clad hills of New England, to the orange- 

 groves of Florida and Louisiana, we have almost 

 every variety of climate, soil, and production. So 

 boundless are the resources of our territory in 

 these respects, that few indeed are the plants in- 

 digenous to other parts of tlie earth, wliich may 

 not here find congenial localitien, and ho readily 

 naturalized, by a very slight resort to artificial 

 means. If I may be allowed to draw an illustra- 

 tion from the mixed character of our population, 

 our soil and climate are as inviting to the exotics 

 of other lands, as the freedom of our political in- 

 stitutions is to emigrants from foreign nations. 

 We have room enough for both ; and to both may 

 the great Republic cheerfully open an asylum in 

 ■ its bosom, thereby augmenting its physical as 

 well as its moral resources. 



* ir « « * 



Horticulture considered as a practical and use- 

 ful art, supplying the wants, conveniences, and 

 comforts of life, forms a very prominent object of 

 this association, to which its efforts have hitherto 

 been chiefly directed, and which should never be 

 lost sight of in our future transactions. Viewed 

 in this light, it ceases to be an abstract and spe- 

 culative pursuit, but comes home at once to the 

 interests — to the business and bosoms of all clas- 

 ses of our fellow citizens. Comparatively few in- 

 dividuals in any community, however intelligent 

 and enlightened it may be, find time amidst the 

 more imperious cares, avocations, and duties of 

 life, to make themselves familiar with the exten- 

 sive and complex systems of botany. To the la 

 boring classes especially, the volume of an intri- 

 cate science is effectually closed : 



" For knowledge lo their eyes licr ample page. 

 Rich «'ith the spoils of time, did ne'er unroll : 



Clill] penury repress'd their nobie rage, 

 And froze the genial current of the soul." 

 But while only a small proportion of the commun- 

 ity may feel disposed to encourage horticulture as 

 a science, all are equally interested in its success 

 as an art. The high .-.nd low, rich and poor, 

 learned and illiterate, are concerned in having 

 the markets and their own tables supplied with 

 vegetables and fruits of a good quality, in suffi- 

 cient quantities, and at moderate prices. Such 

 results are alone to be produce! by systematic 

 and continued efforts. However genial cnay be 

 our climate, or fertile our soil, tlie valuable pro- 

 ducts of the earth will not spring up spontaneous- 

 ly, nor flourish without culture. Well stocked as 

 our markets now are, and much as they have been 

 improved within a few years there is yet amply 

 room for further adviinces in the variety, meliora- 

 tion, and abundance of the articles of daily con- 

 sumption. * # * * 



It is worthy of remark, that we first find man, 

 ptire from the bands of his Creator, placed in a 

 garden ; as if such a retreat wns most conducive 

 to health, innocence, and happiness. Even the 

 peculiar presence of the Deity himself hallowed 

 the paradise he had made. Hia image there ap- 

 peared "in the cool of the day." And may no 



his footsteps still be traced in the garden — im- 

 pressed on the dewy leaf and the opening flower.' 

 And is not his voice yet heard in the chorus of 

 the woods, in the fall of the fountain, and the 

 whispers of the breeze ? * * * 



The United Slates possess in abundance all the 

 requisite elements for reaching the highest de- 

 gree of excellence in this interesting department 

 of the arts, comprising, as our territory does, an 

 endless variety of surface and soil — picturesque 

 hills — irriguous vales — bright waters — luxuriant 

 woods, and unnumbered species of native plants ; 

 with a climate favorable to the cultivation of exo- 

 tics. Indeed, nothing is wanting but the hand of 

 taste, in seconding the profuse liberality of na- 

 ture, to produce the happiest combination of rural 

 scenery, and to render our landscapes and gur- 

 dens among the first in the world. To the skies 

 of Italy our country unites the verdure and fertil- 

 ity of England ; and by a little attention, its ex- 

 terna! aspect may be made to rival either, in va- 

 riety, richness, and beauty. Shall, then, these 

 singular advantages be overlooked, or neglected ? 

 I trust, a very difl'erent sentiment prevails in the 

 breast of every member of this association. Mere 

 objects of taste, it is true, are of little importance, 

 in comparison with the more useful and momen- 

 tous concerns of life ; but it sho .Id be remember- 

 ed, that they form no inconsiderable item in the 

 estimate of national character, as well as the sum 

 of individual happiness. 



Let it not be supposed, that I would limit the 

 province of ornamental gardening to the walls of 

 narrow enclosures — to flower-beds and parterres. 

 On the contrary, its principles should be e.xtend- 

 ed to the embellishment of the avenues, streets, 

 and public squares of our cities ; to the country- 

 seats of the wealthy ; to the fields of our farmers; 

 and lastly, to the ultimate home of us all, church- 

 yards and cemeteries. In some of these particu- 

 lars, the example of the French is worthy of all 

 imitation. To them, I believe, belongs not only 

 the first idea of botanic gardens, but the more re- 

 cent improvement of uniting such institutions with 

 I public promenades ; or in other words, of combin- 

 , ing science, taste, exercise, and amusement in 

 I one, and the same establishment. Nearly every 

 considerable town in France, has ornamented 

 grounds of this description; and the plan has 

 been extensively adopted in Great Britain. To 

 the same nation is due the credit of having im- 

 proved public cemeteries, by converting them into 

 attractive instead of repulsive objects. A proper 

 disposition of the dead, and a becoming tribute of 

 ; respect to their ashes, by seeing that church 

 yards are neatly enclosed, shaded with ornamen- 

 tal trees and shrubs, with the addition of appro- 

 priate sepulchral monuments, should certainly not 

 be subjects of indifference to the living. Wilson, 

 the distinguished ornitiiologist. made a particular 

 request, but a few hours before his death, that he 

 might he buried in some rural spot, on the banks 

 of the .Schuylkill, where the birds might sing over 

 his grave. The sentiment was true to nature ; — 

 for, let philosophy preach as it may, our cares and 

 anxieties, our feelings and affections, will extend 

 to the unconscious dust. * k * j 



Unless some efficient measures bo taken for the 

 preservation and reproduction of timber, trees, and 

 shrubbery, our country will erelong be as remark- 

 able for its naked hills and arid plains, as it has 

 been for its depth of woods and richness of foliage. 

 Its beautiful forests have wasted away, like the 



aborigines, who once made them their green and 

 happy abodes. A war of extermination has been 

 waged against both. To a certain extent, this 

 was necessary, in the settlement of the neww'orld. 

 The advances of cultivation required, that the 

 monarchs of the wilderness, moral as well as phys- 

 ical, should be hewn down by the axes of our hardy 

 pioneers. But the necessity has now in a great 

 measure ceased ; and higher motives than those 

 of taste should induce us to preserve the shatter- 

 ed remains both of the human and vegetable 

 tribes. Justice and mercy plead in favour of the 

 former; while policy and patriotism urge us to 

 spare the latter. It is time to be frugal of the oak 

 upon our hills, whence are to spring the fleets of 

 a great nation ; and to respect the pine, the still 

 loftier lord of the forest, destined perhaps to bear 

 the American Eagle upon its top across the seas, 

 as it once bore the original of the emblem in its 

 native vale, and to waft our future navies to new 

 victories. 



OPIUM. 



The opium for commerce is the product of the 

 cciinmon poppy, seen in gardens. Turkey opium 

 was formerly deemed the best, but it has been 

 cultivated for several years in England, of a purer 

 and better quality, owing to the great care used 

 in its preparation. The East India opium is infe- 

 rior to the Turkey, from the leaves and stems of 

 the plant being packed with the cukes, and often 

 worked into the opium while in a soft state, pro- 

 bab'y to increase its weight. 



English opium is generally in smaller cakes 



cuts clear and smooth like liquorice, and is in a 

 gre.it measure destitute of stalks, leaves, and 

 other impurities. 



The consumption of this drug is almost incred- 

 ible. It is an immense article of commerce, and 

 an interesting paradox, from its extensive useful- 

 ness m modifying and alleviating the most painful 

 diseases, while at the same time it is one of tho 

 most fatal poisons. In the year 1800, 40,808 lbs. 

 were consumed in Europe ; and the quantity has 

 increased annually ever since. 



The Bengal government derived a revenue of 

 £594,978, from the sale of it in 1809, and the 

 exports from Calcutta to China alone, in 1811. 

 amounted to £567,871. The supply of Calcutta 

 opium in 1827, is rated as follows : 



Bengal, 6-570 chests— Mabia, 5000 do.— smug- 

 gled, 1.500 do.— Turkey, 1000 do— 14070 chests. 



Although this article la prohibited by the Chi- 

 nese government, yet 2000 chests are annually 

 sent to Canton, and about 40,000 pounds are im- 

 ported every year to Canton. 



The following method of cultivating it, is stated 

 from recollection, but is believed to be substan- 

 tially correct : The ground is dressed in the 

 same mannor as for a flower plat, and the seeds 

 sown in rows, with room between for one person 

 to walk through. Wlien the flowers fall from the 

 head, it is lime to g.nther the juice. This is done 

 by a person who goes in with a sharp instrument 

 gunged to a proper depth, with which he scarifies 

 the heads standing on the top of the stalks after 

 the flowers have fallen. He proceeds through 

 the field and returns by the next alley, scoring 

 every head with one or more gashes. On arriv- 

 ing at tho place from which be started, he retra- 

 ces his steps, and collects the juice which has ex- 

 uded, in a phial filled with a sharp edged funnel- 

 shaped tin tube, with the wide top of which he- 



