10 



The great Roman orator declared in one of his 

 finest orations — that there was no better pursuit in 

 life — none more full of enjoyment or more worthy a 

 freeman^ than agriculture ; the same may be said of 

 the kindred art which gave birth to this Society : and 

 Lord Bacon, the great master of human learning, has 

 borne testimony to its value, in an essay on this sub- 

 ject, in which he describes Gardening and Horticul- 

 tural avocations, as the purest of human pleasures as 

 well as the greatest refreshments to the spirits of men; 

 and considers the perfection of this art, as the indica- 

 tion of a nation having attained the highest degree of 

 civihzation and refinement. — He says in his quaint 

 language ^when ages grow to civility and elegancy ; 

 men come to build stately, sooner than to garden 

 finely, as if gardening were the greater perfection.' 



The sacred volume also breathes throughout its 

 holy pages, the sanction and encouragement of rural 

 and innocent pursuits; and the Creator by placing 

 our first parents in a garden — a paradise — 



'And place of rural charms and various views, 

 With groves whose rich trees wept odorous gum and balm, 

 Where flowers of all hues, and without thorn 

 The rose untended bloomed' — 



seemed indeed to indicate the preference and favour 

 which the husbandman and gardener would ^ever 

 receive at his hand. 



Profane history has brought down to us its mytho- 

 logy and civil rites, associated and invested with 

 fruits and flowers; and the song of the Bacchanal 



