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STEW-YORK FARMER AJVD 



Many facts were brought to light, proving the na- 

 tural tendency of many of our vegetable productions to 

 deteriorate. Not only the means of preventing this 

 deterioration, but of promoting their improvement, were 

 pointed out and understood. 



In this state of our progress, after seeing us placed 

 on a firm footing, Mr. Storm resigned his office. Mar- 

 tin Hoffman, Esq. was elected his successor. He 

 entered upon his duties at a very important period ; for 

 although we were in the right road for the promotion 

 of the objects in view, still we wanted assistance to 

 render our efforts permanent and extensively useful. 

 For obtaining this, no man could have been found bet- 

 ter calculated than Mr. Hoffman. His own estate had 

 clearly proved him to be entitled to rank among the 

 foremost of the liberal encouragers of horticultural im- 

 provements. His example as a public patron of the 

 Society, was followed by many of our most respecta- 

 ble citizens. The emulation among the practical 

 members became more conspicuous — their public ex- 

 hibitions more interesting — gradual improvements in 

 our markets clearly manifest. Nothing appeared 

 wanting to consolidate and firmly establish the Society 

 but the sanction of our Legislature, to several of the 

 members of which, who were also members of the So- 

 ciety, its usefulness and importance were well known. 

 Even the penetrating eye of that patron of internal im- 

 provement who then was at the head of the state gov- 

 ernment, did not look with indifference on the deve- 

 lopement of our tender bud ; and his cheerful accept- 

 ance of an honorary membership deserves this special 

 notice in recounting our successful progress. Appli- 

 cation was made to the Legislature during the winter of 

 1821 — 2; and on the 22d of March, 1S22, the act 

 was passed to incorporate the New-York Horticultural 

 Society. To George Brinckerhoff, Esq. who drafted 

 the petition to the Legislature, to Maturin Livingston, 

 Esq., and to the other members of the Legislature 

 from this city, the Society is particularly indebted. 



From this period, the Society presented an aspect 

 highly gratifying to every admirer and lover of rural 

 scenery and pursuits. An excellent set of rules and 

 regulations, in conformity to the act of incorporation, 

 for the future government of the society, were drawn 

 up under the direction of Judge Van Ness, Dr. Ho- 

 sack, John R. Murray, Esq. and others. A certain 

 proportion of the funds was appropriated to the pur- 

 chase of silver plate and other articles to be awarded 

 10 the successful competitors far the best designaled 

 productions of their soil. Various channels of inter- 

 course with similar foreign societies were opened, 

 through which there his been a great addition to the 

 stock of valuable information. In this favorable atti- 

 tude of the Society, the worthy Mr. Hoffman resigned 

 the presidential chair, to which Dr. Hosack was 

 unanimously elected. I have thus far traced the gene- 



ral progress of the Society from its birth to its present 

 state of juvenile growth. I will now give a more 

 particular illustration of the present state of our horti- 

 cultural products, compared with that which they were 

 in at the commencement of our career. 



Nothing is more common than for vain and ambitious 

 individuals, as well as Societies, to arrogate to them- 

 selves honors more justly due to the modest and ob- 

 scure. Therefore, while we survey the achievements 

 of this Society, we would pay every due deference u> 

 the labors of private individuals, whose comparative 

 merits we may not have had an opportunity of beina 

 acquainted with. Our claims will be distinctly stated 

 as we proceed ; and in the first place, one great advan- 

 tage of a Society, is the facility with which every im- 

 provement becomes extended for more general use. 

 Besides, the profession of any superior variety, in the 

 hands of an individual, is more apt through accident to 

 be lost, than when distributed, as is always the case, 

 among part or all of the members. The gratification too 

 produced upon their minds by having the results of their 

 industry honorably authenticated upon the records of 

 the Society, is a strong inducement to excite and main- 

 tain that spirit of emulation which is the very life of all 

 improvements. This spirit, the New-York Horticultural 

 Society has produced and maintained in an eminent de- 

 gree, as appears evident by the list and descriptions of 

 articles regularly exhibited at the weekly meetings of 

 its inspecting committee. Nor has their attention been 

 directed only to the improvement of such vegetables as 

 were cultivated here at their commencement in 181S: 

 they have introduced and cultivated successfully, sev- 

 era new and valuable varieties ; and among these the 

 Cape TSrocoli may be justly considered as one of tho 

 most valuable acquisitions ever introduced into our ve- 

 getable market : the seed of which was first introduced 

 here by the Messrs. Thorburn, and Mr. Michael Floy, 

 about one or two seasons previous to the organization 

 of the Society, of which the above gentlemen were 

 among its most early supporters. From the many dis- 

 appointments that have attended all former attempts to 

 cultivate any of the other varieties of this vegetable 

 here, its cultivation for the first few years after its 

 commencement by Mr. F'oy, was very limited ; but 

 the liberal encouragement offered by the Societyfor the 

 prosecution of its cultivation, soon produced a fair trial 

 of it by the members generally ; and by the year 1821, 

 many thousand fine flowers of it were sent to the Wash- 

 ington market, from the garden of one individual mem- 

 ber, who has this season sentabove ten thousand heads 

 of it to the same place for sale. And the quantity sup- 

 plied by numbers of the other members, it is believed 

 has exceeded this proportion ; while scarce a single 

 market gardener unconnected with the Society has 

 yet commenced its culture, and some of those who have 

 prosecuted the business upon an extensive scale, too. 



