are convictions formed by observation, and impress- 

 ed upon me by practical experience ; indeed the 

 Horticulturist and Botanist, by reason of their di- 

 rect and studious contemplation of the Vegetable 

 world, and by their contact, so to speak with na- 

 ture's operations in it, ought to possess a firm ground 

 wherefrom to estimate this subject. 



In the natural condition of man's existence on 

 this world, the vegetation with which it is clothed 

 is an essential one ; whether we consider it as of mere 

 existence, or relating to the qualities which spring 

 from a contemplation of beauty. The distinction of 

 country and climate, is expressed thereby in more 

 recognisable features than rocks or physical conform- 

 ation. The luxuriance of the Tropical Forest with 

 its giant Ferns, or tall high-crowned Palms, and 

 undergrowth of beautiful flowers, has a distinctive 

 significance very difi"erent from the Pine-woods of 

 Northern Europe, the peculiar features of an Agri- 

 cultural homestead, or a picturesque landscape. The 

 human mind receives its impressions from without, 

 and the rule of action evolved from the inner con- 

 sciousness is modified thereby. The necessities 

 which press upon him ; the facilities which surround 

 him ; create rules for man's action or inaction. The 

 character of the individual forms the character of 

 the nation, or race; and so is' history influenced. 

 Such mighty power is conspicuously the efi"ect of a 

 country's vegetation. 



In tropical countries and those districts where the 

 fruits of the earth grow in rank abundance, are 

 raised with little care, and can be gathered almost 

 without labor, the habits of the people are as surely 

 formed by the condition of their life, as in countries 

 where different temperature imposes more stringent 

 terms. The results of this can be traced in the his- 

 tory of the world. 



The terms which Nature thus deals to some races 

 enervate with them, in varying degree, those qual- 

 ities of industry and thrift, that are the bases of so 

 many virtues, those which civilized nations and in- 

 telligent people prize so highly. 



Energy, physical strength, a strong tie of the in- 

 dividual to the public weal, so on to public virtue, 

 liberty and power ; these are the broad effects, how- 

 ever they are modified by disturbing influences. The 

 effect of a country's vegetation is not only primarily, 

 but often very directly traceable. Probably the 

 growmg tree first taught men the strength of a 

 column ; but in Egypt, this architectural resource 

 took the form and ornament of tied bundles of the 

 graceful Papyrus, growing everywhere along the 

 Nile. Elsewhere where the trees rose with straight 

 stems, so the Greek arti.^t shaped his column with 



a different contour and gave it the foliated capital, 

 most likely copied from the Palm. So with color 

 and form in the arts, as these have risen to minis- 

 ter to advancing refinement, — Art being an imita- 

 tive adaption of nature's expression of beauty. 



In climates where the flora is so splendid, mere 

 splendor and display are characteristics of the peo- 

 ple, in architecture, personal adornment, and most 

 forms of decorative art. Nature never errs in her j 

 principles of color and form. 



Here then, men obtain their teaching as to har- 

 mony of colors, and every departure from the happy 

 precept is a fault for which we feel a condemnation, 

 that sometimes we can hardly define. The exterior 

 lines of foliage, of blossom, the pendant raceme, 

 have ever been, and are still models for form. 



When we estimate beyond these considerations | 

 the vast material usefulness of the Vegetable King- 

 dom, who can deny its rank of importance m the 

 beneficial plan of the Creator, or underrate its influ- 

 ence on the destinies of mankind ? It supplies di- f 

 rectly, bread — the staff of life — and multitudinous | 

 forms of fruit and produce^ by which we live and 

 and are clothed, and it feeds every creature on which 

 we feed. To systematize our knowledge of, and in- 

 timately acquaint ourselves with this department of 

 nature, is the vocation of the Botanist ; and to ex- 

 tend its uses in the most practical sense is the vo- 

 cation of the Horticulturist. 



These sciences or professions are very intimately 

 connected ; one leading and stimulating the other. 

 This proposition can be illustrated by the following 

 example : In the year 1809 a shrub with lilac flow- 

 ers was introduced from North America which Bo- 

 tanist decided was a Rhododendron. Again about 

 1817 another shrub was introduced from India, also 

 a Rhododendron, but as the last named came from 

 a tropical country, however much its brilliant color 

 rendered it desirable, it never could be made a den- 

 izen where a season of anything like severe frost 

 occurred, save under purely artificial conditions, 

 which can of course be created. An acclimatisation 

 of plants is impossible, for whatever may be the 

 power of the Horticulturist he can never alter the 

 constitution of a vegetable production, whereby it 

 exists in a given condition of atmosphere. He can 

 create such a condition artificially, but never change 

 the adaptability of a plant to the state of things for 

 which it was designed. A plant may be naturalized, 

 wherever conditions exist like those to which it is 

 indigenous, but never acclimatised. What then 

 was to be done with the Rhododendron, for it was 

 very desirable to adapt in some way the beautiful In 

 dian crimson-flowering shrub to cold and fickle cli. | 



