THE 



f HBMlDSlflM Slilllf 



AMD 



HORTKUMTBII JOUEMt, 



A MAGAZINE OF 



Horticulture^ Botany, Agriculture, and tlie Kindred Sciences. 



Edited and Published by It. ROBTXSON SCOTT. No. G3 Walnut Street, between Second 

 arid Dock St^-eet*) up stairs ; 



Vol. I.] 



Philadelphia. 



[No. 10. 



( 

 ft 



ACHIEVEMENTS IN HORTICULTURE. 



Nothing is more beneficial in stimulating us to increased e^erlion 

 in the accomplishment of what may appear a difficult undertaking than 

 to take a retrospective glance at the obstacles which have been already 

 overcome. Whether in science or art, we have arrived at a standstill, 

 and that the question arises of the possibility of further progress; — the 

 recollection of difficulties already surmounted, gives hope of future 

 success. As inorganic matter has so often yielded to the combined ef- 

 forts of the inventor and mechanic, until it is difficult to surmise to 

 what point their energy and perseverance may lead them j so the hor- 

 ticulturist in his department may survey with satisfaction the success 

 of schemes to modify the arrangements of nature in the distribution of 

 vegetable forms over the surface of the globe, and look back with sa- 

 tisfaction to the achievements in his department, hoping that since so 

 much has been done, there still exists a means of effecting what re- 

 mains to do. The progress of civilisation and the study of the objects 

 which comprise the organic creation, has created a desire to multiply 

 those forms around us, that we may gratify our minds by observing 

 them in their changes and stages of growth and development. But 

 limits having been fixed to the local disposition of these objects, so 

 that a certain plant or tribe of plants, or a certain animal or tribe of 

 animals has been so organised as to flourish under certain circum- 

 stances of climate, soil, and other natural provisions, man could 

 not thus gratify his taste until these peculiarities were overcome j and 

 hence the study of the several circumstances involved in this adapta- 

 tion of means to ends. In the infancy of this attempt to overcome 

 the provisions of nature in the distribution of plants, by removing 

 from their native forests the objects deposited there, and placing them 

 under circumstances such as the ingenuity of the naturalist could at the aO 



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