1855 The Horticulturist

Progress in Horticulture.---Is there Any?

It is not an uncommon thing to hear people say after attending a horticultural exhibition, and luxuriating their eyes upon the display of exquisite fruits, "Oh yes! it is all very well for a few rich people and amateurs, who can afford to keep expensive places and gardeners, but why is it we never see these things in market?" The question would appear to be a reasonable one; will the questioners be contented at present with a reasonable answer?

The progress of all great improvements is slow; it has taken some ten years to introduce successfully that obviously economical instrument, the mowing machine. The captains of the Thames and other English steamboats keep a boy always on duty to hollow "stop her," "go ahead," &c., and they contend that a bell "would not answer;" so that we see even where it is of the strongest pecuniary interest, slowness marks the progress of a good thing. In the case of luxuries this onward movement is necessarily more tardy.