THE 



GARDENER'S MAGAZINE, 



AUGUST, 1828. 



PART I. 



ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. 



Art. I. On the Horticulture of the United States of America, 

 By Jesse Buel, Esq. C.M.H.S. ., 



JtloRTrcutTURE received but little attention in the United 

 States, until quite a recent period; and, with occasional ex- 

 ceptions, was limited to the culture of common culinary vege- 

 tables and fruit. A young people must earn the means of pro- 

 curing the luxuries and elegancies of horticultural refinement, 

 before they can enjoy them. The wants and necessities of a 

 new country are generally too imperious to leave much time, 

 or to afford adequate means, for indulging extensively in the 

 ornamental and scientific departments of gardening; and 

 perhaps the republican principles of the government, and the 

 habits of the people, have in a measure tended to retard im- 

 provement in these higher branches. Most men are ambi- 

 tious of popular favour : and here, where all are upon a poli- 

 tical equality, whatever savours of singular ostentation or 

 extravagance rather begets bad than good feelings. The Tartar 

 conquerors conciliated the Chinese, by conforming to the laws 

 and customs of those whom they had conquered. But the 

 greatest obstacle to improvement has been the want of 

 prominent examples. There have been no royal gardens, no 

 horticultural gardens, no botanical gardens (but in name), no 

 public gardens, to stimulate and instruct those who might 

 wish to cultivate taste, or acquire knowledge, in this branch 

 of rural improvement. Respectable private gardens were 

 occasionally found in the neighbourhood of large towns ; but 

 their number was too small, and the access to them too 

 limited, to produce much influence towards general improye- 

 V0L.IV. — N0. 13. 6 



