The old Book on Orchards and Gardening, of which we have already spoken, and given specimens, and which is the greatest curiosity in its way that we have seen, goes far to prove that all knowledge is not exactly modern. It enforces much that orchardists and gardeners of the present times insist on, and altogether makes a good foundation for a horticultural library. We are glad to learn it is exciting lively interest, and proves an incentive to our friends to make a little exertion to obtain readers for us, and thus procure the work for themselves.

The knowledge which the ancients had of farming and gardening, has lately been examined by Dr. Daubeney, who has just published his "Lectures on Roman Husbandry, delivered before the University of Oxford." He takes up the history of agriculture as the science was developed by Columella. The early husbandmen prized the rich loam soils, and learned to distinguish the earth that is soon crusted by the sun from that which is friable, black, and porous, and judged of the land by ascertaining whether it produced the lotus, the reed, or the basket-rush. They knew where to find springs, and how to estimate an argillaceous district. To this day, in the South of France, men are held in high estimation who possess the art of finding hidden waters, and that was an old Grecian invention. It is a curious circumstance, that one of the methods described by Hesiod is precisely the same as that now employed by certain African tribes; they ascend to a hill-top before sunrise, and when the warmth of the dawn begins to glow, they observe where exhalations rise.

The Attic farmer, moreover, understood the processes of irrigation, the tokens of the weather, the agricultural signification of stars, clouds, swarms of insects, the colors painted on the sky by the setting sun, the ground fogs round Hymettus, the vapors on the Capha-rean peaks. He judged from circles round the moon, meteors, rainbows, bubbles on the surface of a river, the cry of a crane or chaffinch, the flight of island birds, the roll of dolphins, the creeping of the land toad into its pool, the burning of the candle-wick, and a hundred other natural omens. But it was in the processes of agriculture that the Greek ingenuity most conspicuously displayed itself. The farmer, if wealthy, kept smiths', carpenters', and potters' works upon his land, and constructed his own wagons with ilex axles, maple yokes for the oxen, poplar or mulberry felloes in the wheels. He applied manure to the fields, and justly appreciated the value of guano. Few improvements have been made on the manure pits of ancient Greece; the Grecians had a harvest home as in modern times.

The Greek authors supply abundance of details on the floriculture of their contemporaries, on the artificial blanching of roses, on the planting of garlic near their roots, with the fanciful intention of enhancing their fragrance; on the immersion of lily bulbs in cinnabar and purple wine, on the cultivation of stoneless peaches, piebald figs, and almonds bearing natural inscriptions.

In his view of Roman husbandry, Dr. Daubeney indicates many similar points. Like the Greeks, the Romans prized, above all other kinds, the manure yielded by birds, rejecting that of aquatic species, unless mixed with superior qualities. The sweepings of dovecotes were highly valued. The use of chaplets necessitated the cultivation of flowers, although " winter coronets" were made from shavings variously dyed, which afterwards gave place to gold and silver. Among fruits, he considers the melon was unknown before the times of Pliny, but it was before his time that it was recommended to perfume it, by keeping the seed in a bed of rose leaves !

The peach, he says, was brought from Persia, and Columella alluded to the fable of its poisonous qualities; probably the prosaic acid in the kernels. These topics possess interest, and might occasionally be curious, if reproduced at our agricultural and horticultural societies, where men sometimes promulgate news that was familiar to the oldest writers whose productions are preserved.

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The Proprietor of the Horticulturist resigns, with this number, his connection with the work, passing it to C. M. Saxton, of New York (the well known publisher), who will bring to the work the advantages of twenty-six years' experience in publishing, He will be able to devote to it an amount of time and personal attention that the undersigned found impossible, in consequence of engagements in a different line.

The Horticulturist will be hereafter issued in New York, under the best auspices for the subscribers. The same Editor will continue to give it undivided attention. I ask for my successor in the publication a continuance of that patronage and confidence which have been so kindly and uniformly extended to the work.

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June

We care not for the friendship of the man who does not revel in the delights of June. The merest tiller of the ground occasionally leans on his spade or his plough, to inhale the sweet breath of spring, delight his eye with the profusion of newly-developed beauties, and catch the cheering sound of the blue-bird or the twitter of the wren. The lilies of the field and the birds of heaven are pictures made for all, that by glancing at them the mind may be instructed, and necessary toil borne with patience.

The pursuits of the amateur gardener would be fruitless, indeed, if he were destitute of a delight thus conferred on all who gain a livelihood by the sweat of their brow; he must, if he is a true lover of nature's gifts, also rejoice in the beauty of a scene, to ignore which would entitle him to no share in the smiles of June. He will not make his own garden the horizon of his landscape, but will look out on the grand scenery of nature, with its garments of varied green, enamelled with white, and rose-colored and purple jewels. What a queen is nature, and how silken are the bonds of her rule! We read of the costly and dazzling magnificence of a regal drawing-room; but what is this to the levee of mother earth. Such a drawing-room is nature now holding, with rainbow glories above her head, a thousand subject blossoms all around her, and a verdant and richly-jewelled carpet at her feet; a poor imitation of which is the greatest triumph of the imperial loom.

In such open drawing-rooms the imagination of the poets of all ages have revelled, eschewing the stifling smoke of lamps, and the crowded saloons of mediocrity. It is sad indeed, when the inhabitants of a charming world have no perception of its charms, and can walk in the midst of beauties without observing them. But after being refreshed with this expanded acquaintance with the world's great garden, the amateur returns contented and pleased to his own limited domain, which yields him special pleasures in the season of growth. A large portion of the past months has been toilsome work, animated by hope rather than actual possession ; but now hope is to be realized and labor repaid. The strawberry graces its turban of soft green with profuse blossoms and fruit; the fruit trees no longer look like barren sticks, but are garnished with beauty. The vegetables give expectations of a profusion of healthful food. Every day the soil has been broken by thousands of seedlings, either projecting a sharp spike or a minute branch. Warm showers exhibit their growth, and the hand of industry so lately reposing with all nature, scarcely knows where first to direct its efforts.

Until lately the florist had to enter his greenhouse, or thrust his head into pits or frames to survey his treasures; but now they are less coy, and walk abroad in the unfettered parterre. What a source of delight it is to see the folded buds of the roses, and to catch a glimpse of the future flower in the spindling branch of a carnation, or the rising stems of our bulbs.! Every day brings forth new candidates for your approving smiles; until at length "Along these blushing borders, bright with dew, And in yon mingled wilderness of flowers, Fair handed June unbosoms every grace,"

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It will be seen, by reference to our cover, that a change has been made in the Horticulturist. An interest in it has been purchased by Mr. Geo. E. Woodward, whose name has been familiar to our readers for a year or more past as a liberal contributor on the subject of Landscape Adornment. This change will place at our disposal such facilities as will enable us to carry out some long contemplated improvements, and otherwise add to the usefulness of the magazine in such a manner as to make it more acceptable than ever. We are not accustomed to speak of our own labors, but we think we may say that we have done something to give the Horticulturist its present high character as an authority on all matters coming within its sphere: this character we shall do our best to maintain. In our new relations we shall be enabled to give increased attention to Landscape Adornment and garden ornamentation, but we shall not neglect other interests, especially that most important of all, the science of Pomology. We shall endeavor, in short, to make the Horticulturist an indispensable companion, not only to the possessor of lordly acres, but even to the owner of a city lot; such a companion, indeed, as no sensible man would willingly be without.

The progress of rural art since the establishment of the Horticulturist has been of the most gratifying description, and no little of this progress has been directly attributed to the influence of this magazine. It shall be our object to increase still further this influence, until every home shall become an especial object of endearment. While we are laboring thus in our " sanctum," may we not ask that our friends abroad in the world will do something to increase our list of subscribers 1 Some have done nobly in this respect; others might do much. Let no man imagine that the present war has created a necessity for stopping his supply of horticultural knowledge; there are many other things that he can much better do without. Whatever other kind of business may be suspended, certain branches of Horticulture must be pursued with additional vigor, and no thoughtful man ought at such a moment to deprive himself of any means of knowledge within his reach. Mr. Saxton will continue to be our publisher, and all letters, etc., may, as usual, be directed to his care.