If patents are necessary to protect inventors in other branches of science, why not in horticulture? Are not the fruits of the earth of as much value to mankind as the glittering ornaments which may add splendor, but not one moiety to the real welfare, of the possessor?

. We think if there is any branch of national industry which would repay the fostering care of the government more than another, it is that of horticulture and its near relative, agriculture. The progress that we have made in the past half century in agricultural productions has in a great measure been owing to the protection which patents have afforded to inventors of agricultural implements.

What other great inducement could we offer the inventor to stimulate his genius than that of wealth? Would honor or the gratitude of his fellow-countrymen be equally as potent in developing his inventive powers as money? We think not; for just so long as money remains the great motive power which moves society, just so long must the glittering promise of it be given to individuals for the purpose of bringing out their latent talents.

Secrets in horticulture we have always condemned; perhaps our opinion has been biased by circumstances, from the fact that we never were so fortunate as to meet an individual who happened to possess one, who was not pretty thoroughly ignorant of all other matters relating to the subject.

This, however, is no good reason why there may not be secrets in horticulture, or that a man, otherwise ignorant, may not discover something that would be valuable to the profession.

Steam as a motive power was at one time a secret to all the world except Watts; but when he made the discovery known, others followed in the track, as readily as one wave of the great ocean succeeds another.

Every individual has a natural right to benefits derived from his own labors, and our patent laws were framed for securing this to inventors, while at the same time it encouraged the divulging of secrets. When an article is patented, it is no longer a secret, but the whole world is invited to make improvements upon the same, the original inventor receiving compensation by royalty, or otherwise, upon whatever portion his inventions may contribute to the whole.

We want no secrets in horticulture; but we do require some adequate means of protection to those who may by their individual exertions introduce, invent, or produce any article or process of manufacture which shall be a benefit to his fellow-beings. Under existing laws, a man who invents a machine or compound to destroy his fellow-man may get the same patented, and derive wealth therefrom; but one who spends a lifetime of toil in discovering or producing a new fruit, grain, or vegetable which shall save nations from famine, or add untold blessings to his race, has no protection against thieves except his own individual strength, which is often quite inadequate for the purpose.

We will suppose a case, and in doing so we will not draw upon our imagination sufficient to exceed the truth.

Mr. A. has been growing seedling grapes for twenty years, but in all that time he has produced but one variety that he thinks worthy of dissemination. This one is a great acquisition, and it will be largely planted; hundreds of vineyardists will get rich from its products; government will receive a large amount, not only from the income tax of those who cultivate it, but from the vine from its fruit; and as a whole, it will add millions to the wealth of the country. At present there is but one vine in existence, and that is in the garden of the originator. Now, it is well known that a variety may be valuable in one locality and not in another, and the question naturally arises: how is Mr. A. to determine the real value of this variety except by dissemination? We all agree that this is his only course; but if he propagates and distributes the vines, what security can he receive that others will not propagate from them? (and perhaps more rapidly than himself) so that while he is waiting to learn the true value of his production, so many thousands of it have been grown by others that he can make nothing by its propagation or sale.

In fact, the very means which Mr. A. employs to learn the true value of his new grape has debarred him in a great measure from receiving any reward for his labor, It may be said, that he should have placed the specimens in the hands of only honest men. True, this would have been a partial protection against fraud; but so long as rascality travels in disguise, and has access to honest men's gardens, this precaution would be of but slight advantage. It is an easy matter for those who feel so disposed, to pocket a few cuttings or seeds of plants, and thereby become possessors, at least, of any new and valuable product of the soil. We could cite many instances, if it were necessary, to prove that many of our horticulturists have been robbed of the reward of their labors by such means; and under existing laws there is no remedy".

The author of a book is protected by copyright, and the compounder of a drug and the inventor of a machine - no matter how simple they may be - receive the fostering care of the government, while the agriculturist or horticulturist is left in a great measure to the mercy of thieves.

We do not wish to advocate the protection of monopolies nor the patenting of every process in horticulture which ignorant or shrewd men may bring forward, but we do want to see some system adopted which shall protect honest men against rascality, and afford them means of receiving a fair remuneration for their labor, Why can not we have an agricultural bureau at Washington, where new fruits, flowers, or grains may be deposited, with an accurate description of the same ? - the depositor furnishing proof that he is the originator, and receiving a certificate therefor, and this shall secure to him the sole right to propagate and sell the article the same for a period of years, as in the case of patents. Perhaps it would be better to have such a bureau connected with each State agricultural college, and in the experimental classes of each the products of the State might be tested, and thereby furnish correct information as to the value of each plant submitted to its care.

It appears to us that some such system is required, and that by its adoption our progress would be more rapid, and that the honest and industrious laborer in the cause would feel encouraged to put forth greater exertions than he does under existing circumstances.

We believe that others feel the necessity of some change in our present system as well as ourselves.