American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-02-13
Gbe tarm T. GarNur.
Iron whitlock's Horticultural Recorder.l
Mental Labor in Hortic culture.

Iron whitlock's Horticultural Recorier.l
Mental Labor in horticulture.
MANY persons seem to think that it .
requires but little mental labor to be- .
come an eminent horticulturist. To I
those who have travelled over, and
nplthe rugged path which leads to the
first step in the long flight, at the sum-
init of which fame and knowledge are
supposed to dwell, this view of the
subject may appear very strange
one. We could not believe that any
sane man would for a moment sup
nose that but little mental labor was
REQUIRED for one to become familiar
with the science of horticulture, il we
were not Ia constant receipt of letters,
the tone of which show that the
writers thereof think that physical
labor Is all that Is needed to be-
come successful horticulturist.
One young man writes that he has
thus far devoted his life TO the study
of the classics and the more familiar
science, and now lie wishes to pur
chase small place in the country,
where he could grow fruits and flow
ers; and at the same time continue
his higher studies. He further remarks
that he does not suppose "that horti-
culture requires any great amount oil
mental labor.
How very strange this will sound to
these who have devoted u lifetime 10
one small branch of the subject, and
then been oblieed to confess that they
have scarcely learned the Introductory
chapter.
Have we any pomologists among
us, who are thorough masters of any
one branch of pomology? Has any
man been able to learn and remember
even the names of all the apples in
cultivation? And suppose one has
learned this much he would then be a
great way from knowing all about
their origin, cultivation and adapta-
bility 10 soils and climates, variations
In form, quality, and thousand other
characteristics and changes which the
student in horticulture Is constantly
meeting in his pursuit of knowledge
Let any young man who thinks
there Is little need of mental labor in
horticulture, select for his first lesson,
one hundred of the most common
strawberries and learn them so thor
uu0hly that he can recognize each at
sight, and give their name and origin
when known. When he is able to do
this, let him take the leaves of the
, same varieties and learn to distinguish
them when separated nom the parent
plant. He may then go through the
different, species of cultivated fruits,
selecting q hundred varieties of APP
pies, pears, grapes, raspberries, &C.,
and by the time he has mastered this
much of the subject he will begin TO
feel that mental as well as physical
labor is required in horticulture. But
such q lesson is very simple one in
comparison with those which every
horticulturist is compelled to learn
before he passes the vestibule to the
temple of nature. We will suppose
1t possible for one man to become so
well acquainted with plants that he
can readily distinguish all that have
been described in the botanical and
horticultural works of the present
day; he would then scarcely know
the alaphabet of horticulture; because
their structure, both physical and
chemical. also the relation which ex-
lists between varieties, species, genera,
and family would have to be learned
A life time is far too short in which
to read the works that have been writ.
ten upon this subject. 1t may not be
positively necessary for man to read
5hOrticu ture to enable him to grow
Dwarf Pears or Apples, but if he
would know their history and al
about them, he will have to seek
knowledge outside Of hiso own garden
walls. We hope that the time viii
soon come when we shall not have t.
regret as Columella did more thar
eighteen hundred years ago, tina
those who sought help on their farm
forgot that intelligence was as neces
sary there, as at the bar or in tn
pulpit. Our young men should stud.
the classics if they desire 10 be thor
ough farmers and horticulturists, TO
they will find use for the knowledge
acquired, even when following tn
pillow, or when called upon to leave
as Clncinnatusi did in the DAYS O
ancient Rome. Shall they study thu
dead languages? Most certainly, fo
how can they understand the scientifi
names of plants and animals withou
some knowledge af Greek and Latin
Is knowledge of chemistry bene fl
cial TO the hOrticulturist and agricul
turist? Most certainly, for there is II
class or men who are brought into sue
close contact and require more thor
Ough knowledge of the composition {
soil and plants as those who cultivat
them. A knowledge of Entomolog
( will assist US in distinguishing on
friends from our enemies among tn
insects, and teach us the best metho
OF destroying the latter. We migt
readily show that every known scienc
from geology to astronomy are bu
the land marks and assistants of tn
cultivators of the soil, but the world
rapidly learning this lesson, and "
shall soon hear no more of young me
leaving the farm or garden for til
purpose Of pursuing higher studies.