during the Year 1840. 643 



physicians, and divines, were found purchasing, and afterwards assiduously- 

 fostering, this newly discovered source of wealth. Although the summer of 

 1839 was an extremely unfavourable one, yet an accurate observer, who made 

 the entire tour of the union from New Orleans to Boston, informed us that 

 at the lowest calculation there could not be less than fifty millions of plants 

 growing in the country. The natural result was, that in the autumn succeeding 

 all came into the market as sellers, and none as buyers ; the trees were first 

 sold at a few cents each, and finally were not to be disposed of at any price 

 whatever. During the present year, therefore, while immense numbers have 

 served as brush for sticking peas, or have been entirely thrown away, a con- 

 siderable number of individuals possessing the requisite means, as well as 

 many farmers, have turned their attention to silk-growing with good success. 

 In New England there are at least two towns that produce annually from 50 

 to 100,000 dollars' worth of silk ; and, at the last fair of the American Institute 

 in New York, specimens of tassels, fringes, and a great variety of silk fabrics 

 of the first quality, were exhibited, entirely of domestic production and manu- 

 facture. Our sewing silk is admitted by the consumers of this article to be 

 far stronger, and of equal fineness and lustre with the best Italian ; and, from 

 the more gradual and sure manner in which the silk business is making 

 progress, we have no doubt that it will ultimately be of immense importance 

 to the nation. 



The Advance of Horticulture generally in the union is rapid, though, from its 

 being diffused over such an immense territory, the results are neither so soon 

 nor so easily appreciated as in a country covering a smaller superficial area, as 

 England or France. Every year we find the number of what may be called 

 handsome villas and suburban residences, with respectable, sometimes elegant, 

 gardens and neat green-houses, increasing, especially in the middle and eastern 

 Atlantic states. The recently increased facilities of importing rare plants by 

 the medium of the steamers have given fresh stimulus to the exertions of 

 amateurs and commercial gardeners in obtaining new species and improved 

 varieties. Immense quantities of fruit trees, rose bushes, and ornamental 

 shrubs, &c., are imported annually, and sold in New York ; those from the 

 French nurseries are, however, frequently of the most worthless description, 

 though sold under high-sounding names. Although New York is the point 

 of reception and delivery for a considerable portion of the union, it is far 

 below Boston and Philadelphia in horticultural zeal or taste. This arises 

 partly from the all-engrossing nature of the commercial pursuits of its in- 

 habitants, and partly from the fact that its own direct suburbs are neither 

 pleasant nor perfectly healthy for residence ; hence, the more wealthy in. 

 habitants form their country seats on the banks of the Hudson, the Con- 

 necticut, &c. The suburbs of Boston, on the contrary, are, perhaps, the most 

 beautiful in the union, abounding with elegant and well cultivated residences of 

 opulent citizens. The climate of Massachusetts being a little more in- 

 auspicious to the maturing of the finer fruits than that of the middle states, 

 forcing is carried to greater perfection about Boston than in any other portion 

 of the union ; some of the finer places having from 500 ft. to 1200 ft. in length 

 of green-houses and forcing-houses, Philadelphia is particularly remarkable 

 for the taste for green-house exotics which has long existed there, as there 

 are probably more plants grown there than in all the other towns of the 

 union together. The public squares of this city are numerous and filled with 

 choice and beautiful trees, and the windows and walls of the houses are more 

 elegantly decorated with rare plants and climbers than is elsewhere to be seen. 

 There are seven horticultural societies in the union, those of Boston and 

 Philadelphia, of course, taking the lead in zeal and usefulness. Some 

 idea of the interest manifested in these cities may be formed, when it is stated 

 that the proceeds of the admission to the late exhibition of the latter society 

 were nearly 4000 dollars. 



No country in the world is more favourable to the growth of the finer fruits 

 of temperate climates than the northern half of the United States. Although 



