WE had barely time to announce in our last number, the sad intelligence of the death of Mr. DOWNING. We had hoped to present this month, an elaborate memoir, prepared by an intimate friend of Mr. D., but unavoidable circumstances have prevented its preparation at so early a day. It will be given in a future number, accompanied by a portrait of Mr. DOWNING.

We cannot, however, suffer the occasion to pass without paying some feeble tribute to the memory of one who was endeared to every lover of his country-to every admirer of the beautiful, and expressing our ardent appreciation of his worth.

His sudden and untimely death has fallen with a crushing weight on the hearts of his friends, and upon the public generally, as a common calamity. The place he occupied is now a blank-the commanding position to which he had carved his way, will wait long for a claimant. Though comparatively a young man, he had earned a reputation for ability, and enjoyed a popularity, which few have been fortunate enough to win. Without the advantage of a liberal education,-forced from youth to rely upon his own unaided exertions,-at the early age of thirty-seven years he had elevated himself to an enviable rank among the first minds of the age. At whatever point of view we regard him, we are compelled to admire the symmetry of his character, the vigor of his mind, the versatility of his talents, and that healthful flow of enthusiastic feeling which marks his writings. There are those who can work out beautiful thoughts in marble, who can clothe them in the touching language of poetry, or bid them flow in the rounded periods and convincing strains of oratory, but few minds seem possessed of the power to add by art to the beauty of nature, and make the desert blossom like the rose.

Mr. DOWNING first claims our attention as a practical Horticulturist and Nurserymen. Unlike the majority of working-men, he did not busy himself exclusively in the manipulations and detail of his art, though in these eminently successful,

SEPT. 1, 1852.

No. IX.

but labored to discover the first principles of his profession, and to bring it up to its proper rank in the science and the fine arts. When we consider the discouraging circumstances under which he wrought, both in the means of prosecuting his work, and the apathy of public sentiment, we wonder that he should have produced a treatise so perfect in its kind, so elaborate and finished as his LANDSCAPE GARDENING. He handles with apparent ease, the subtil topics of abstract beauty, the moral and social influence of its development in nature, and what is more remarkable, he is equally at home in carrying his theory into practice. This work first appeared in 1841, and though an elegant and costly book, has now passed through four editions. It was the first publication on the subject by an American author, and so completely unknown was the art, that the manuscript remained some time in the hands of the author without a publisher. It was, however, a complete triumph, and may be said to have almost created a taste for ornamental gardening-it certainly refined and elevated it.

The discussion of a disposition and adornment of the grounds pertaining to a residence, naturally led to the subject of Architecture. With all the branches of this art, Mr. DowNING was familiar, and his COTTAGE RESIDENCES and COUNTRY HOUSES, display with great effect his admirable taste. He discusses the meaning and expression of Architecture, in a profound and comprehensive manner; and following, what seems to have been a motto with him-" Never to lose sight of good sense," he shows the absurdity of adopting ancient architecture as the highest form of the art, and argues the necessity of a peculiar national style of building. That he founded a distinct school, we do not assert; but from many sources, and particularly from his own varied culture, sound judgment, and correct taste, he drew just what seemed best adapted to the wants and capacity of the country.

The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, which was issued in 1846, presents to great advantage, the pomological research and experience of Mr. DoWNING. This work is admirably executed, and has met with universal favor. These works of Mr. DownING have given this country a rank among other nations in Horticulture and Rural Taste, and exerted a wide influence upon the improvement of our own gardens and houses. Many a residence, beautified by his skill, many a smiling lawn, and gracefully disposed group of foliage, remain as fit monuments to his memory, and many a home, made happier by his teachings, will be saddened by his death.

In the editorship of the HORTICULTURIST, he has shown, perhaps, better than in his other writings, the peculiar fitness of his talents to educate the popular taste for the beautiful in nature and art. The success which has attended this periodical, and the increased attention which is being paid to Landscape Gardening, Horticulture and Rural Decoration, are proof of the beneficial influence of his labors. Whether we read his Letters from England, which exhibit a refined literary taste, and a delicate appreciation of, and full acquaintance with, the pleasures of a scholarly and cultivated mind, or the plain sayings and wholesome counsel of an "Old Digger," we recognise the same sterling sense and discriminating judgment. Mr. DOWNING was not by eminence a theorist. It was not his aim to build castles too grand and lofty for human realization, or to show the power of his intellect by forming conceptions, which imagi

nation only could give being to. The great question with him, was, how much of the really beautiful can be made subservient to the public good? how far can elegance and utility be combined? how much of the spirit of the amateur can be infused into the mass of the rural population? He has answered these questions by his deeds.

Mr. DOWNING was an American, and all his thinking and acting tended toward the welfare and elevation of his country. Very much of his deserved popularity is owing to his ability to popularise whatever he wrote upon. He seized upon what was most needed, and upon that alone, and with striking point and directness, presented it in such form, that his conclusions were irresistible.

His style of writing is unaffected and flowing, and his diction, though elegant and ornate, is never verbose or tiresome. Such a style grew naturally out of his characteristics of mind and habits of thought. His mind was furnished and cultivated, and his impulsiveness bore his thoughts by the nearest way to the desired end. This brings to notice that peculiar carnestness and sincerity which everywhere is visible in his writings. Neither a philosopher or an enthusiast, he combined the excellencies of both in his individuality. Above all others, he was the man best fitted to mould the architectural and rural taste of the country to a correct model, to guide public sentiment to whatever is highest in Nature and purest in Art, and to aid in making America what Heaven designed it should be, the garden of the whole earth.

Mr. DOWNING has closed his labors too early to have shown the full maturity of his power. If his youth has been thus productive, what results might have crowned a longer life! what beauty might have sprung from a riper experience and an enlarging capacity!

About two years since, Mr. DOWNING received an invitation to visit Washington, for the purpose of conferring with the President with reference to the laying out the public grounds in the vicinity of the Capitol. For the last year and a half he has been engaged in designing and perfecting his plans, and in accordance with them, a park of some 160 acres is being constructed. It will afford the only example of grounds to such extent, laid out by the rules of art, in this country, and will undoubtedly be a most perfect work of its kind.

In his private character, Mr. DowNING was upright, manly, and enthusiastic, and he entered with zeal and energy into every subject which promised to elevate and refine his fellow men. In his social relations he was a gentleman in the best acceptation of the term. Courteous, affable, and polite to the stranger; generous, warmhearted, and confiding to his friends, he was universally respected and loved.

The sad circumstances of his death make us less reconciled to his loss. Mr. DownING, in company with his wife, and her mother, sister, and younger brother, together with a lady friend, Mrs. Wadsworth, embarked on the Henry Clay, full of buoyancy and joyous expectation, on their way to Newport. Scarce two hours have passed, and that circle is broken. Some are sleeping beneath the wave,-others are weeping on the shore this wreck of hope and happiness. Mr. DOWNING, his wife's mother, Mrs. De Wint of Fishkill, and Mrs. Wadsworth, were lost-the remaining members of the party were saved,-Mrs. Downing almost miracuously. As Mr. DOWNING

was an excellent swimmer, he must have been borne down by the crowd, or perished in the attempt to save another's life.

We unite with his personal friends, and the many who are endeared to him by that charm which his writings breathed, in tendering our heartfelt sympathy to Mrs. DownING. We too can mourn that a great mind has been removed from our companionship, that a noble heart has ceased to beat,-that a life rejoicing in such beauty and promise, has gone out thus early.

This sad event has thrown new duties and responsibilities upon us, which we shall endeavor faithfully to discharge. The taste for rural art which has already sprung up, the growing interest in Horticulture and Floriculture which is manifested on every hand, demand the continuance of a publication like the Horticulturist. That spirit of improvement which the well directed energies of our friend was just awakening into life, must not be suffered to die. Fortunately, the position which the Horticulturist has occupied is so well defined, and its past volumes are so replete with value, that we are not left without a guide as to our future course. We leave it for our readers to say how well the expectations held out in the very commencement of the work, have been realised; still it may not be inappropriate to refer to its general design and purpose, as expressed in the following language of Mr. DOWNING:

trated. The humblest cottage garden, as well as the most extended pleasure grounds, will occupy the attention of the pens in our service. Beautiful flowers shall picture themselves in our columns, till even our sterner utilitarians shall be tempted to admire and cultivate them; and the honeyed, juicy gifts of Pomona shall be treated of till every one who reads shall discover that the most delicious products of our soil are no longer forbidden fruits. Whatever our own feeble efforts can achieve, whatever our more intelligent correspondents can accomplish, shall be done to render worthy this monthly record of the progress of horticulture and its kindred pursuits. If it is a laudable ambition to make two blades of grass grow where only one grew before,' we shall hope for the encour agement and assistance and sympathy of all those who would see our vast territory made smiling with gardens, and rich in all that makes one's country worth living and dying for.'

"In its pages, from month to month, we shall give them a collection of all that can most interest those whose feelings are firmly rooted in the soil, and its kindred avocations. The garden and the orchard; the hot-house and the conservatory; the park and the pleasure grounds; all, if we can read them rightly, shall be made to preach useful lessons in our pages. All fruit. ful and luxuriant grounds shall we revel in, and delight to honor. Blooming trees, and fruitful vines, we shall open our lips to praise. And if nature has been over-partial to any one part of the globe, either in good gardens, fair flow. ers, or good fruits,-if she has any where lavished secret vegetable treasures that our cultivators have not yet made prizes of, we promise our readers to watch closely, and to give a faith. ful account of them. Skilful cultivators promise to make these sheets the repository of their knowledge. Sound practice, and ingenious theory will be continually developed and illus. To carry out the intention here expressed, to so prosecute the work as to urge forward with steadiness of purpose and earnest effort, the impulses which our friend had roused to a good degree of activity, is our aim. The impetus, which, in all its branches, Horticulture has received, has made the demand for more ample information in the details of its successful prosecution, commensurate with its importance. That which, five years ago, would have been needlessly obtrusive, has now become a necessity, such has been the progress in the art of gardening. An increased attention to detail in the practical manipulations of the flower and kitchen garden, is called for, and may, we think, be combined with the more artistic and scientific branches of rural taste.

We are well aware that we shall labor under disadvantages-that he who was the

master spirit in this art, is no more; but may we not hope that echoes of his genius will come back to us from the smiling gardens and beauteous landscapes which his taste has rendered so expressive-that some other mind will kindle with the ambition "to make his country worth living and dying for," and that the work which has been so auspiciously commenced, will not cease for lack of laborers.

For the present, we shall continue THE HORTICULTURIST under our own immediate direction, but hope, before the close of the current volume, to secure the services of a competent Editor, who will efficiently carry out the spirit and design of the work. In the meantime we earnestly invite the continued correspondence and assistance of those who have hitherto contributed to its pages, and such rough notes of experience as practical gardeners, nurserymen, and cultivators generally, may see fit to favor us with.

It is impossible to enter with too much zeal and enthusiasm, into this work. We cannot, with safety, appropriate the result of horticultural labors in other countries. Our tastes and wants are peculiarly our own, and must be fostered and satisfied with American talent and research. Knowledge in the abstract may satisfy the German mind; the desire of supremacy may stimulate English energy; the vain-glorious pride of excelling in rare and beautiful products, may induce the Frenchman to exertion, but different motives urge us, as American citizens, to beautify our country, and increase its cultivation. We want the ornamental and useful together,—we require facts as well as theories,-we build houses to live in as well as for effect- -we cultivate gardens for profit, as well as beauty. There is, then, a broad field for the student of Horticulture, and a widening sphere for the taste of the amateur. If he "who makes two blades of grass grow where one grew before," deserves well of his country, how rich will be the reward of him who brings forth the treasures of science to adorn the earth and refine the mind.

THE PLEASURES OF GARDENING

BY WM. W. VALK, M. D., FLUSHING.

WE are disposed to cull a flower from every field of the literature of gardening. Therefore, we pluck this from a rich soil, and offer it to the readers of the Horticulturist, for their admiration or criticism.

Perhaps not one among the many thousands of every class who read for amusement or for profit, but will admit that gardening has its peculiar pleasures. It is, indeed, an absorbing recreation, and among its votaries has ranked illustrious princes and renowned philosophers. The most eminent and worthy of mankind, whether occupying exalted positions in public life, or fulfilling the more retired and unobtrusive duties of a private sphere, have ever made it their favorite amusement. It is an enjoyment and occupation for which none can be too high or too low-at once the pleasure of the greatest, or the care of the meanest. The interest which flowers have excited in the breast of man, has, from the earliest ages to the present time, never been restrained to any particular class of society, or quarter of the globe. Over the whole world, nature seems to have distributed them as precious medicaments, to both the mind and body-to furnish agreeable sensations to its inhabitants, and to impart cheerfulness and beauty to the earth. In the joy