vol,. XVIII. 5fO. 36. 



AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER 



303 



fully '.dmitted its truth. The dangers to virtue 

 a city are very groat, as is well known ; and in- 

 litely '.)ettur Would it bo fur a vast portion of the 

 ung n.on uli-.j crowd from the country into the 

 y, if t';-'y r'uld be satisfied with a fanner's life, 

 jw prr'Vrable. would it have been for many of 

 ose w have sought wealth and distinction in 

 iies, if they had been satisfied with the comforts, 

 locent amusements and soothing quietude of the 

 untry ; and instead of the sad tale of their disas- 

 rs, which must go back to the parental fireside, 

 B future rural bard as he passed the sequestered 

 d humble church-yard, in which they had been 

 d at rest, with their laborious ancestors, might 



y— 



Some village Hampden, that with dauntless breast, 

 The little tyrant ot^ his fields withstood ; 

 Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest; 



~3mc Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood." 



finitely better would it be for them to pass their 

 es in t '8 deepest obscurity of the country, than 

 risk, &; is too often done, all their peace and hon- 

 in the perils and adventures of a city life. 

 He w, s not unaware that these tilings were in 

 my respects purely matters of taste. He knew 



11 that a country residence could not be alike" 

 lasant to all ; but for himself he could say with 

 ith thi'i. the humblest cottage in the country 

 luld be better than the most magnificent resi- 

 nce ii! the city. It was a source of consolation 

 minds inspired with rural taste and attachments, 

 it tho'- should'at last find a peaceful grave in 

 me sf . lestered vale, under the shade of trees 

 intec ly their own hands. 



He c I'^gratulateci the farmers of Massachusetts 

 ■on tl.j impulse whicii was given to agricultural 

 quiry and improvement throughout the State ard 

 8 wh jle country. The encouragement given to 

 rtici'ltural science and improvement was a like 

 bject of congratulation. These subjects were now 

 llecting and concentrating the intelligence and 

 sle of the brightest and most improved minds, and 

 is could not fail to give them a generous and 

 sting impulse. 



The great name, the honor and boast of our 

 luntry and mankind, adorns the pages of agricul- 

 ral history. Washingtcm was distinguished for 

 s agricultural taste, for the interest which he took 



the cultivation of his farm ; and for the eminent 

 iprovements of which he was instrumental. He 

 ferred particularly to his having taken the lead 



the importation of several of the most valuable 

 reeds of cattle, sheep and swine for the improvc- 

 icntof the livestock of the country, one of the 

 lost important and valuable objects to which the 

 ttention of the farmers could be directed. He 

 ever fi>rgot his farm even in the midst of his pub- 

 c eng,inements and services ; and his journals, 

 hich are published, stiow in the very midst of his 

 ublic cares, the most e.\act and particular arrange- 

 lents and directions given to his manager for the 

 onduct of his farm and the improvement of his 

 grounds. This his ciirrc.-pondencc with the most 

 niineiit agriculturists of Europe shows in a like 

 nanner. 



This generous impulse has gone forth. Archi- 

 nedes said in his enthusiasm, if yuti would give 

 lim a place on which to stand, he would move tlio 

 »oild. We have found a place in a free country, 



here the mind is free and the body is free to ef- 

 fect any improvement within the capacity of man, 

 ind by whicli the human race may be benefited. 

 n. voice wag heard among the mountains of Ger- 



l 



many which, in proclaim. ng liberty every where 

 within hearing, aroused the minds of men to power- 

 ful action. In tliis new wurlJ, a voice went forth 

 in the thundering cannon of Bunker Hill, which 

 announced freedom and independence to the coun- 

 try. This great revolution opened a wide field- for 

 enterprise ; awakened into e.xtraordinary activity 

 the powers of the mind; gave birth as it were, to 

 industry; kindled every where the fires of science; 

 and stretches out before tlie .-mbition of patriotic 

 and intelligent minds, an interminable course of 

 improvement. Much has already been done for the 

 great cause of education and the improvement and 

 elevation of the laboring classes, the great sources 

 of wealth and the true foundation of independence 

 to a country. '! he mysteries of science, under our 

 free institutions, are unlocked to them ; and me- 

 chanics are found, not blind machines, like those 

 which come out of their own work -shops, but capa- 

 ble of teaching even from the chain of philosophy, 

 the profound principles of their own art ; that what 

 was once merely an art is now elevated to a sci- 

 ence. 



A new and most powerful agent has been enlist- 

 ed in the service of man and promises the most ex- 

 traordinary benefits to art and science. Our sailors 

 aided by this mighty power, traverse the ocean as 

 if Neptune himself stood at the helm. The chariots 

 of fire course over tlie land; and lightning and 

 magnetism will, ere long, be yoked to the trium- 

 phal car of genius. So rapid is the progress of in- 

 telligence, that the anticipations of the most imagi- 

 native are likely to be fully realized. 



Facts now are the great objects of pursuit. The- 

 ories are not likely to be received unless establish- 

 ed by facts and e,\perirnent. Truth and utility are 

 iiidissolubly allied. That knowledge is mainly 

 valuable which can be applied directly to purposes 

 of usefulness. The prospect of benefiting our fel- 

 low men should give activity and energy to all our 

 powers and labors. In the progress of improve- 

 ment and the benefits of science, it cannot be doubt- 

 ed that agriculture, the art of arts, allied so close- 

 ly and inseparably with the most important physi- 

 cal, political, social, and moral interests of mankind, 

 will not and cannot be denied her full share. Im-' 

 provements here must mainly rest upon facts. Eve- 

 ry improvement in agriculture established on facts, 

 cannot fail to be most e.xtensively and permanently 

 beneficial. Let us labor in this great cause with 

 intelligence and zeal, persuaded that no pursuit is 

 more innocent and honest ; no engagement to "a vir- 

 tuous and inquisitive mind more engaging and sat- 

 isfactory ; no labor more certainly useful to the 

 community ; and none which has or can have a 

 more favorable and beneficent influence upon indi- 

 vidual comfort, upon private morals, and upon the 

 general welfare. 



Religion. — Take away religion and you take 

 away the foundation of much that is noble and e.\- 

 alfed in man. He who possesses it, looks iip(mthe 

 world with an increase of admiration ; he feels him- 

 self glowing with a renovated love to bis fellow 

 creatures — and at once acknowledges the invisible 

 and all-pervading power of the Eternal. — Religion 

 throws a brilliancy upon the morning of life ; it em- 

 bellishes the gay and fiinciful dreams of childhood ; 

 it falls like a refreshing dew upon the hearts of the 

 young and innocent, softening the feelings and af- 

 fections, without tlieir^nowing whence it proceeds. 

 ibbott. 



MAIS. HORTICULTURAL SOCIE I Y. 

 A meeting of the " Committee on Flowers," of 

 the Mass. Horticultural Society, was lield at the 

 room of the Society, in Tremont Row, on Saturday, 

 Jan. 25, 1840. 



The business of the meeting having been stated, 

 it was moved that Mr C. M. Hovey be appointed 

 Secretary. The committee then proceeded to de- 

 clare the premiums offered by the Society, for 183'J, 

 They were as follows: 

 Geraniums. — For the best 12 varieties, to 



W. Meller, a premium of §10,00 



For the 2d best 12 varieties, to Iluvey & 



(^o., a premium of 5,00 



Tulips. — For the best 12 varieties, to S. 



Walker, a premium of 10,00 



For the 2d best 12 varieties, to S. Walker, 



a premium of 5,00 



Roses. — For the best display of flowers to A. 



Asphinwall, a premium of 10,00 



For the best 24 varieties, to S. R. Johnson, 



a preniiun of 5,00 



For the best 12 varieties, to R. Howe a 



premium of 3,00 



For the best 12 Chinese and other tender 

 varieties, to S. R. Johnson, a premium 

 of 5,00 



Pinks. — For the best display of flowers, to S. 



Walker, a premium of 5,00 



For the best G varieties to S. Walker, a 



premium of 3,00 



For the best seedling, to W~. Meller, a pre- 

 mium of 3,00 

 Carnations. — For the .best display of flowers, 



to Messrs Mason, a premium of 5,00 



For the best 6 flowers, to W. Meller a 



premium of 3,00 



For the best seedling, to W. Meller, a 



preiiiium of 3,00 



Violas For the best display of flowers, to 



S, Walker, a pj-emium of 5,00 



For the 2d best display, to S. Walker, a 



premium of 2,00 



For the best seedling, to S. Walker, a pre- 

 mium of 3,00 

 DaU IS. — For the best display of blooms, to 



M. P. Wilder, a premium of 10,00 



For the 2d best do., to J. J. Low a premi- 

 um of 8,00 

 For the 3d best do., to Joseph Breck & 



Co., a premium of 7,00 



For the 4th best do., to Hovey &, Co., a 



premium of 6,00 



For the 5th best do., to S. Walker, a pre- 

 mium of • 5,00 

 For the Cth best do., to Messrs Mason, a 



premium ot 4,00 



Total amount of premiums .f 125,00 



The comr*ttee also awarded the following pre- 

 miums, in addition to the same sums, offered by the 

 liberality of T. Lee, Esq., for the encouragement of 

 the growth of the most ornamental species and va- 

 rieties of native flowers, viz : — 

 For the best display of Native flowers through 

 the season, to William Oakes, Esq., of 

 Ipswich, a premium of $5,00 



For the 2d best display of the same, to E. 



Weston, Jr. Esq., a premium of 5,00 



No competition was thought deserving of the 3d 

 prizCj and the committee reserved the balance, ap- 

 propriated for 1839, to be added to that ofl840. 



