HORTICULTURE. 105 



THE VALUE OP DISCIPLINE. 



But it is not necessary that a boy should learn Greek and algebra at school 

 in order to receive this needful and healthful drill of mind and character. 

 Any occupation engaged in, in the proper spirit, may be made to furnish both 

 discipline and pleasure. To do the one thing only, and do it well, thoroughly, 

 and conscientiously, to learn the one lesson until it is perfectly understood, is 

 better far than a little knowledge of many things. Doing one thing well is an 

 inspiration to do others well; and self-reliance, decision of character, and 

 promptness in business matters, will unerringly follow. 



ALL LEARNING NOT TO BE FOUND IN BOOKS. 



Education does not all come from books. Nature gives us lessons more re- 

 plete with wisdom than the lore of the sages; pictures more beautiful than 

 the canvas of the painter or the visions of the poet; and the songs of her 

 birds, and winds, and waters, furnish a music grander and sweeter than the 

 songs of the artists who warble before the footlights. 



WHAT HORTICULTURE TEACHES. 



And what occupation is better adapted to help us explore the mystic secrets 

 of creation, " to lead us from nature up to nature's God," than that of horticult- 

 ure? The boy or man who plants a tree or makes a flower-bed, or who buries the 

 seeds in the brown earth, has taken a broader, deeper lesson in science and 

 religion than the one who is always housed in the school-room. No better type 

 of the resurrection can be found than the seed bursting its bonds beneath the 

 clod, and forcing upward the tiny shoot which gives promise of blossom and 

 fruit. It is a lesson of patience, also, for he learns that he must await the 

 ministering influences of the sun, the winds, and the rain, before he can reap 

 the rewards of his labor. And, walking along the ways of the seasons, follow- 

 ing bud and blossom to their final fruition, he sees the mighty miracle of 

 growth in all its varied and beautiful phases. And may be, as he carefully 

 casts out the weeds from among his plants, and prunes away unsightly and 

 dying branches from his trees, he will be led to think of casting evil or worth- 

 less thoughts from his heart, and of pruning away excrescences of character 

 and disposition. 



And seeing that everything pertaining to the raising of his fruits ani vege- 

 tables must be done at its appointed period, that in order to be fully prepared 

 for the work of one season, he must put to good use the spare moments of its 

 predecessor, — he learns economy of time, one of the chief factors of success 

 in any calling. 



FAILURE OFTEN A TEST OF CHARACTER. 



Sometimes, of course, the results of his careful, diligent toil will not bo 

 such as lie was justified in expecting. The worm, the frost, or the mildew 

 may steal a march on him, and thwart his most cherished plans. 



And just here is where we find the test of the individual's metal. If he is 

 composed of soft material, easily affected by outside influences, he will give 

 up, sit down and bemoan his sad fortune, and declare that he will seek some 

 other employment that will bring him better luck. But if the genuine metal 

 is there, you will know it by its ring, for difficulties will only serve to develop 

 the hit jut force and energy of his character. He will say that what has been 

 done can be done agaiu, and that he will yet beat his fortune out of the earth, 



