284 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



There is no branch of American industry that is attracting so 

 much attention, or which is destined to become so prominent a 

 feature among the industrial resources of the United States, as 

 that of horticulture. 



For the last twent-five years we have been in a whirlpool of 

 excitement, caused by the introduction of new fruits and flowers, 

 new books, and new theories, all of which have been sought for 

 with an earnestness amounting to almost infatuation. 



While such a state of feeling exists in regard to this branch of 

 industry, it would be strange if some did not listen to bad 

 counsel, and, in their eagerness to outstrip their neighbors, fall 

 into errors which will defeat the object in view, and in some 

 cases effectually cool their zeal to become a devotee of Pomona. 



Americans are made of such excitable material that it is diffi- 

 cult to make them travel in one direction a sufficient time to 

 thoroughly test an}' new branch of business, unless it gives un- 

 mistakable signs of repaying tenfold on the investment. Any 

 thing that is likely to enlarge the purse is surelj^ to be attended 

 to immediatel}'. 



Our people are not penurious when purchasing plants, as the 

 high prices at which our new varieties of grapes are now selling 

 so extensively will prove. But it is that careless, heedless man- 

 ner, in which they cultivate (or entirely neglect) a plant after 

 they get it into their posession that makes us complain. They 

 will buy Delaware vines at $50 per dozen, and then refuse to pay 

 a laborer a few dimes to keep the weeds from smothering them 

 during the summer. 



After purchasing a tree, and it is safely deposited in the soil, 

 they consider their part of the work done, and that there is 

 nothing more to do, but wait for the tree to grow and produce 

 fruit in abundance. There is one part of the programme that 

 is generally fulfilled to the letter — i. e., they have a good time 

 waiting. 



That we have many good cultivators, our markets plainly show, 

 but that there are too many poor cultivators is eqully true. 



It is this desire to get rid of the expense and trouble of culti- 

 vating their trees properly, that leads so many to listen to any 

 theory that will give them an excuse for neglect. 



Deep working and thoroughly pulverizing the soil, have always 

 been acknowledged by good ctltivators to be indispensable to 

 success in fruit culture ; yet let any one who can reach the ear 



