154 



HrtRtlCtTLTURE. 



and the proper applicafion o^ glass, where artificial heat is 

 ftot emplo\ed, is certainly very ill understood, 



^PPiioati-nof Every gardener is well acquainted with riiethods of ap- 



trees. plvincr manure, with success, to annua! pants; for these^ 



as Evelyn has justly observed, haxnhg bvi little time to ful/il 

 the intentions of nature, readily accept nuEriinent in almost 

 any form in which It can be ofTered them : but trees, being 

 fnimrd fr>r periods of longer ''uration, are frequently much 

 injiiied bv the injndicious and excessive use of manure. The 

 gardener is often- ignorant of this circumstance j and noJ 

 unfreqnently forms a compost for his wall trees, which for a 

 few years stimulating them to preternatural exerlioDy 

 becomes the source of disease, and early decay. 



F'-ot vqrieties It is also generally supposed that the same ingredients, 

 and in the same proportion to each other, which are besi 

 calculated to bring one variety of any species of fruit to per- 

 fection, are equally well adapted to every other variety of 

 that species: But experience does not justify this eonehj- 

 sion ; and the peach in many soils acquires a high degree of 

 perfection, where its variety, the nectarine, is comparatively- 

 of little value ; and the nectarine frequently possesses its full 

 flavour in a soil which does not well suit the peach. The 

 same remark is also applicable to the pear and apple,- and 

 as defects of opposite kinds occur in the varieties of ever/ 

 s) ecies of fruit, those qualities in the soil which are benefi- 

 cial in some cases, will be found injurious in others. la 

 those districts where the apple and pear are cultivated for 

 cider and perry, much of the success of the planter is found 

 to depend on his skill, or good fortune, in ada})ting his fruits 

 to the soil. 



The precc'ling remarks are applicable to a part only of the 



mprriverient obiects, which the Horticultural Society have in view; but 

 oiffci nhcKj- they apply to that part in which the practice of the modern 

 gardener is conceived to be most defective, and embrace no 

 inconsiderable i]'e.]d of irnprovc-ment. 



In the execution of their })lan, the committee feel that the 

 society have many dinicuilies to encounter, and, they fear, 

 some prejudices to contend with ; but they have long beoi 

 convinced, as individuals, and ! heir aggregate observations 

 have tended only to increase their conviction, that there 

 scarce exists a single species ofl^sculent plant or fruit, which 



(relative 



An<^ numerous 

 other firilil;of 



aelvea. 



