Horticultural Society of the Valley of the Hudson Circular with a note from A. J. Downing

Letter

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Orange County Historical Society - New York

Name/Title

Horticultural Society of the Valley of the Hudson Circular with a note from A. J. Downing

Entry/Object ID

2022.1.8

Description

This Circular for the Horticultural Society of the Valley of the Hudson is an 1838 proposal and invitation—written as a circular and accompanied by a handwritten personal note from renowned horticulturist A.J. Downing—to establish a broad regional association dedicated to advancing horticulture across the Hudson River counties. Key Highlights of the Proposal • Regional Scope: Unlike previous local societies that quickly dissolved due to a narrow scope, this association aimed to span the entire fertile Hudson River valley, uniting gentlemen and landowners across multiple river counties. • Core Objectives: The society sought to promote horticulture as an art and science by hosting comparative exhibitions, sharing practical information, and distributing rare plants, seeds, and valuable fruit grafts. • Three Annual Meetings: The group planned to rotate three major seasonal exhibitions through Albany, New York City, and an intermediate town (such as Newburgh or Poughkeepsie) to showcase early vegetation, summer produce, and autumn harvests (focusing heavily on pomology and local fruit varieties). • Founding Organizers: The proposal was backed by prominent figures of the era, including Jesse Buel, John Torrey, Stephen Van Rensselaer, and A.J. Downing. • Organizational Meeting: Recipients were invited to join and attend an upcoming founding meeting on May 30 at the Lyceum of Natural History at 563 Broadway in New York City. Personal Note Context: The reverse side features a handwritten note from A.J. Downing sent to Dr. Wm. Horton in Craigville, NY (dated May 1838). Alongside sharing the circular, Downing apologizes for not being able to visit for rhododendrons due to being busy, mentions an upcoming trip to Boston, and asks Horton to send choice local mineral specimens that Downing can gift to the Boston Natural History Society.

Collection

William Horton Papers

Created By

[email protected]

Create Date

September 9, 2026

Updated By

[email protected]

Update Date

September 29, 2026