Floriculture; its Influence in the Home. 219 



" love of the woods." They come to us, the God-given messengers 

 of cheerfulness, in our homes, setting us the bright example of do- 

 ing the very best we can, under the most adverse circumstances. 

 They teach of him who bade us " consider the lilies, how they 

 grow," and are an ever-varying source of interest and enjoyment. 



On some fair spring morning, just after a rain, carefully draw 

 within your little girl's flower bed the letters of her name, plant t hem 

 with candy tuft, mignonette, or any other sure-growing seed; wait 

 until some day she sees it come up, green and fresh. You will give 

 her a lesson on the improbability of chance which will never be 

 forgotten. 



It is often said that the time needed for the care of house plants 

 might be used to better purpose; that the daily watchfulness 

 required by them, if given to some other object, might be produc- 

 tive of nobler results. Perhaps it is so in some cases, but as every 

 person requires some recreation, some interest, apart from and 

 superior to the petty cares and trials of every day life, the cultiva- 

 tion of what adds cheerfulness and brightness to our homes fills 

 this need to many; and floriculture should not tend to selfishness. 

 There are always those to whom a boquet, a plant or cutting given, 

 will bring pleasure. Our floral treasures will be doubly precious 

 to us if shared with others. A wreath of lovely but home culti- 

 vated flowers, laid on the coffin of a poor, neglected child, called 

 forth from the mother a cry, " I will never forget those." Her mind, 

 roused to action, saw as in a vision when she too loved flowers. She 

 felt her present state of degradation, and resolved to be once more 

 a respected woman. She influenced her husband to change their 

 mode of life, and when I last heard of her she was respectable. I 

 trust these societies will continue their educational and refining 

 work, until every farmer will see the need of a flower garden; will 

 have a few pennies for seeds to brighten his home, and cheer the 

 tired eyes of those that dwell therein, when the floweret shall open 

 the door for music, and all innocent pleasures which shall tend to 

 refine his family and himself. I would fain believe that those who 

 have been favored with the means to obtain all which shall gratify 

 their taste in floriculture will gladly share and give of their abun- 

 dance to those who have not, so that no home shall be without the 

 ornaments of nature's own producing, which have been given to 

 our keeping. Interest once raised on the subject, magazines on 



