The death of this distinguished pomologist, which occurred on the 19th of January, closes a remarkable era in the history of American horticulture. It is well known to students of social philosophy, that the courses of large bodies in the community are unconsciously directed by a few remarkable men, who come to be in a certain sense leaders and directors of thought without either the leader or the led having the least idea of the current drift of things. In gardening we see this frequently illustrated. The genius and influence of Thomas Andrew Knight, ably seconded a few years later by Lindley, led to the production of a race of thoughtful, practical gardeners in England, the like of which the world has probably never seen. On the continent of Europe, Von Mons, Decaisne, Du Breuil, and others of that stamp, took a special interest in fruit culture; and for many years the whole world had to look to France and Belgium for most that was worth learning in progressive fruit culture. Landscape gardening, flower culture, orchid collecting, and many other lines of horticultural pleasures, all owe their waves of popularity to the unselfish genius of a few enthusiasts. Gardening never goes down.

From early Paradise till now the love exists, and will exist while time endures; but the peculiar directions the tide take depend on a very few.

The advent of the Downings - Andrew Jackson and Charles - had this special influence here. A. J. Downing was a rare lover of garden taste and garden art, and he had the essential enthusiasm that was catching to all who came into contact with him. If he had lived no country would have been more preeminent in landscape gardening than America. But he died young; and the young plant with so brilliant a future faded when his spirit fled. To-day, landscape gardening is almost a lost art among us, at least in comparison to what it would have been had the great master lived. The brother Charles' genius tended more to fruit culture. His love for trees and flowers was not less than that of his brother, but fruit was his chosen fancy, and to our mind it was the genius of Charles Downing which led the way for the vast preeminence in fruit culture which America enjoys to-day. Of course he has been ably-seconded by Warder, Barry, Wilder, Hovey, and many others, just as in other lines other leaders have been ably seconded in their day; but the stream that was stricken from the rock was chiefly in response to the rod of Charles Downing.

Who will now tell us of what we want to know of fruits? Who will give the many hours in naming and identifying baskets of fruit from all parts of the world to which he gave so many in the labor of love? Hours of time and piles of money, for that which was not of the slightest value to him, except as might be the knowledge that he was benefiting every one around him. Is there anything in horticulture that makes a man unselfish ? The lawyer, the physician, the clergyman even, has a money value on time, and either in the shape of a gratuity or stated fee expects to get cash for services rendered. The merchant especially regards the money value of time; but men like Charles Downing must work continually, day in and day out, from January to December, seeking only the good of others. This was especially the lot of this good man, and not to work merely, but go cheerfully and uncomplainingly along. Not always, however, is this great sacrifice made without some thought of its cost. It is only a few weeks ago that we had a letter from our good friend on this very topic, which it is yet too sacred with the mark of privacy to use in full.

We may say, however, that it told of his early struggles to be useful in the literature of pomology, and of the troubles and disappointments of finding publishers to give to the world his works. Even where he had been successful in this, all that he had received from his huge labors in many cases was a few copies of his own work to give to his friends.

Possibly some one will arise who will follow closely in his steps and continue in the good work just as he would have pursued it; but the experience of history is against the thought. There will be but one Charles Downing; and as we lay his remains in the grave, the tears of American pomology everywhere drop over them as for its greatest treasure gone beyond recall.