This is a subject not unworthy of our consideration when we look at the almost universal interest it exercises over the minds of the people of the present day.

At the time our story begins, 1837, Philadelphia was considered the headquarters of horticulture; here were to be found the Landrethsand Maupays, as nurserymen, or dealers in fruit and ornamental trees; while Buist, Sherwood and Dryburg, Ritchie and Dick, McKenzie and Buchanan, with D. Fetters, were florists of good repute, and the few private collections of any note were Pratt, of Lemon Hill; J. B. Smith, of Moyamensing; General R. Patterson, and Mr. Pepper, the brewer, whose greenhouses occupied a building on Chestnut Street, second and third stories.

The principal kinds of plants then in demand consisted of Camellias, Roses, Pelargoniums and Chinese Primroses. Of hardwooded New Holland and Cape of Good Hope plants, were Acacias, Pimdeas, Chorozemas and Lechenaultias, with a sparse sprinkling of Cactus, etc., etc. Ferns were not known in those days by florists. In making up bouquets, which were not much in demand, the flowers used were mostly Camellias, Roses, single Chinese Primroses and Carnations, and as green to set these off, Chinese Arbor-Vitae, with Rose Geranium leaves, were the steady stand-by. Plants in pots, for the decoration of private rooms or public halls, were seldom called for; in fact, the articles wanted, as Palms, Gum Elastic, etc., did not find a place with florists.

In New York, Thorburn, Hogg Dunlap and Boll were the leading flower growers, while as tree nurserymen, the Downings at Newburg and Wra, Prince, Flushing, were the only notable cultivators. Mr. Prince, though eccentric in character, was notable for his zeal in introducing new and valuable fruit and ornamental trees into the country, and among these new things, which, be it said, proved of little account, was the Chinese Yam, about which', for a time, he bored the country, but after giving it a fair trial, it was found that half a day's work of a man was necessary to dig as many roots as would make him a dinner.

Boston then contained one horticultural establishment of merit, that of Hovey & Co.; one of the firm, C. M. Hovey, conducted the Horticultural Magazine, the only monthly periodical of the kind in the country. It was ably managed, and gave much valuable information on fruits, among which Mr. Hovey is an expert even at the present day. He it was who, against much oppo-sition, advocated the merits of the Concord Grape, and it has nobly sustained the estimate he then formed of it. Boston people ought to be thankful that they have had a Hovey and a Wilder to educate them up to the high standard of horticulture which they now enjoy, and in which work my old; friend, Dr. Asa Gray, has given valuable aid.

In the year 1837 such plants as are suitable for ribbon and carpet bedding out were almost unknown, but we then formed groups of roses, double dahlias, heliotropes - mixed with fish geraniums - , as they were then called - but the effect produced, was anything but artistic. But about this time a scarlet, a white and a lilac verbena were introduced by me (not by R. Buist, as published), and florists, by crossing these, in a few years numer-ous varieties were raised of almost all shades of color save yellow; and just let me say here, parenthetically, that I grew a yellow verbena in Scotland in the year 1832 (Verbena sulphurea), introduced from South America by Dr. Gillis; unfortunately, it never has found its way into the United States, so far as I know.

A few years previous Petunia phoenicea had made its appearance, and by crossing this with P. nyctaginiflora, a white species, many beautiful varieties, both single and double flowered, were the result. Now began fancy grouping of these, aided by the new varieties of fish or scarlet geraniums of various shades of color; but people were not contented with brilliant flowers; they sought after plants with gaudy foliage, which they found in Coleus, Achyranthes, Alternantheras and Centaureas; so, at the present day it is noun-common thing to find a bed filled with flowers and foliage of as many colors as that which made Jacob's coat so remarkable, and we would here remark that it takes no inconsiderable amount of taste to have the colors harmonize in arranging such beds, be the style either the ribbon, carpet or mixed type. Ladies, as a general thing, excel in this kind of work.

In Baltimore, where the taste for floriculture of late years has made rapid strides, credit is due to the Feasts, the Pentlands and the Hallidays for the aid they have rendered, while we think that the Maryland Horticultural Society, by its exhibitions, has exercised a more powerful influence than any other agent in bringing about the present pleasing state of things. Hundreds of florists have of very recent years sprung up in the city and its suburbs, yet these cannot supply all the demands for bridal parties, funerals, public feasts and private parties, so that quantities have to be procured from the northern establishments.

Then look at our public parks and squares in the city. What kind of aspect do they now present during the summer months from what they were a few years ago? They are found bright and beautiful, fit emblems of an advanced state of civilization.

About twenty years ago, one of the commissioners of the squares flanking the Washington monument asked me what ought to be done to improve those grass plats. I replied, remove the unsightly railings, and adorn the surface with groups of shrubs and beds of flowers. His answer was : "Oh! that would never do, as people would pull them up root and branch." My answer to this was, only give the thing a fair trial, and that it was his duty as a progressive man to educate and refine public taste.

In the same space of time that floriculture has advanced so rapidly pomologists have not been idle. The ancient list of native grape vines, which embraced little more than the Catawba, Isabella and Lenoir, is now supplemented by new and superior kinds that would stand counting by the scores. From many, wines are made equal in bouquet to any foreign brand, thanks to the late N Longworth, of Cincinnati, as the forerunner in this laudable enterprise.

The State of Ohio gave us a J. P. Kitkland, who raised some of the finest cherries now under cultivation.

Of pears numerous sorts have been introduced from abroad, but among these, if we except the Bartlett, it will be found that the finest and most profitable sorts are of native origin, having sprung up in hedge rows and waste places, to which have been added some fine sorts by Mr. Clapp and Mr. Dann. We do not venture to say much about the notorious kind known as Kieffer; the last we ate were not very mellow, and the tree is not proof against blight as reported. Pears do not bring such high prices as they used to do, but that wholesome and desirable fruit, the apple, still receives valuable additions to its number of kinds, and the quantity grown is immense. The quality of such as are grown in the Middle and Northern States does not compare well with those grown in the Western States in size and smoothness of skin, so that in the market the growers in the State of New York will scarcely be able to hold their own.

In the State of Delaware, and lands bordering both shores of the Chesapeake Bay, there are car loads of peaches grown now for bushels that were raised fifty years ago, and the planting of new orchards still goes on, and will continue. Small fruits, as raspberries, blackberries, currants and strawberries, have been greatly augmented in kinds as well as in quality. Every year brings forth a host of new strawberries, some of them good in fact, while most are represented as better than the best, particularly should they be brought to your notice by a traveling tree charlatan.

By the foregoing meagre statement it will be found that the country has arrived at a high state of progress in horticulture, much of which is due to the writings of the Downings, Wilder, Barry, Meehan and many other noted men, combined with the work of the American Pomological Society; not forgetting the aid afforded by descriptive and illustrated catalogues spread broadcast over the length and breadth of the land by the almost innumerable nurserymen and florists found in every section of our diversified and fertile country.

[The above interesting sketch appeared recently in the American Fanner, of Baltimore. Mr. Brack-enridge's modesty has not permitted him to include his own labors - which have by no means been meagre - with those of his colleagues.

The Yellow Verbena was introduced by the writer of this in 1855. The color, however, was too "brassy" to be popular. There was just enough "yellow" in the tint to save the reputation of one who called it yellow, and that was all. - Ed. G. M].