364 THE PHILADE LPHIA FL ORIST. 



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[No. 13 



18 



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Our labours for the completion of the first volume of the Flokist 

 being well nigh finished, we propose to take a glance at the past and 

 to speculate a little on the future success of the periodical. Being a 

 novice in editorial affairs, we are well awareof the short comings and 

 errors which marked the volume now about to close. The only rea- 

 son we can advance for projecting such a x^lagazine is this — that no 

 qualified individual seemed disposed to undertake the matter, and we 

 were most anxious that Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania, should pos- 

 sess a practical Horticultural periodical. The experience of the past 

 proves to us that there is sufficient taste and spirit to support tuch a 

 periodical ; all that is wanting is time and means to produce a valuable 

 affair. We may congratulate our readers on having secured the ser- 

 vices of many of the most competent horticulturists, who freely give 

 the result of their experience for the encouragement of the science; 

 and we can promise for the coming volume an increase of talented con- 

 tributors amongst scientific men. The desire which exists in distant 

 parts of the Union for a good and reliable guide in the several opera- 

 tions of gardening has been manifested, and it shall be our care to 

 furnish them with such information as will be best suited to their 

 wants. The notice which persons begin to take of our indigenous 

 plants, encourages us to devote a space to the subject of the Indigenous 

 American Flora, and from the facilities which we enjoy of examining 

 valuable herbaria, we hope to be able to .satisfy the enquiries of all 

 who take the pains of forwarding proper specimens for determination. 

 This subject has always engaged much of our time and attention. On 

 the subject ol Fruit and Fruit Trees w r e have been rather limited 

 throughout the past year, hut the assistance of several eminent po- 

 mologists having been procured, we hope in the future to remedy that 

 defect. With respect to the social questions which are closely con- 

 nected with our subject, involving the improvement of our gardeners, 

 we have never shown any disposition to refuse to them that considera- 

 tion which is due to a matter so important ; and we may here state that 

 it has been far from our purpose to create any sectional jealousies be- 

 between the various classes of which the body of practical horlicul- 

 urists is composed. Placed as we are here to fulfil our destiny, we do 

 not believe that the question of particular country where we had cur 

 origin is at all relevant. During the progress of our undertaking we 

 have no doubt offended certain individuals, and thus entailed on our- 

 selves opposition ; if such arose from an independent criticism of pub- 

 5* lie acts of public bodies, we submit that we were entitled to that 



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