STATE HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 71 



wild, half tame, and Irving used to pretend that its rusticity helped 

 to set off the fine landscape gardening of his wealthy neighbors' 

 grounds; but he knew it was the adjoining artificiality which really 

 set off his own bit of nature." Such a home does not spring up in a 

 night like a mushroom. It is as much of a growth as the lives within 

 its walls. One adds to the treasure of tree and shrub, year by year, 

 choosing the best for his own. 



It is much the same within doors. We may well make haste 

 slowly in selecting the lares and penates of our homes. An ivy, a 

 half-dozen chosen plants, will give the cherished hint of coming days 

 of green and bloom. But we must never lose sight of 'the fact that 

 our life is more than meat, and the body than raiment. Thus guarded, 

 it may be said that American homes are the abode of comfort, beauty 

 and happiness. 



The subject was continued by the reading of the following 

 paper by 



MBS. J. p. LA MONTE, HAMILTON. 



Mr. President., Ladies and Gentlemen: 



When our Society appointed its delegates to this body, I felt 

 quite elated at the honor of being selected on Standing Committee 

 for the State Society. The more I thought of it the taller I grew, 

 until one day it occurred to me to ascertain the duties of a standing 

 committee. Pride must have a fall, and mine certainly had Avhen I 

 found I had the same work to do that our other delegates did; that 

 is, write an essay. I would have .certainly declined in favor of some 

 other member of our Society, for we have a number of good essay 

 writers. While grieving over my dilemma I received a communica- 

 tion from your worthy Secretary, asking me the subject of my 

 essay. I took a good hearty laugh at my stupidity, and as he sug- 

 gested several subjects, I selected one of the number, "Home Adorn- 

 ment." The responsibility of adorning home is generally conceded 

 to woman; and to her is given the credit of its appearance; but I 

 shall take another view of it, and endeavor to show that to truly 

 adorn home the husband has an equal work to do; it is certainly 

 a partnership arrangement — love should be the balance-wheel. Dry- 

 den says ''Home is the sacred refuge of our lives." If this thought 

 were carried out what adornments home would have. From a hor- 

 ticultural view we will take a couple just starting on a farm. Each is 

 ambitious to have everything in first-class order, but the place is not 

 new, and needs extra work on that account. The busy season is ad- 

 vancing, plowing must be done; well, here is a fence broken, but I 

 must stop and repair it or wife will think I am not tidy — thinks 

 the husband, and a few minutes are taken at once, and it is in order. 

 I must crowd my work to get in the oats early; as he is taking the 



