Garden Revelations. 43 



The poet truly tells us, " there is a lesson in each leaf," and if 

 we but open Nature's book to read her secrets, what a mine of 

 wealth and knowledge is before us to cheer us in the dreary pil- 

 grimage through life, for 



" Nature never did betray the heart that loved her." 



A traveler once asked Wordsworth's servant to show him his 

 master's study. The servant replied that he would show him his 

 master's library, but his study was out of doors in the garden. Let 

 us, this early spring morning, refresh our senses by a pleasant walk 

 as we go arm in arm through Wordsworth's study, the garden, and 

 perhaps we, like Shakespeare, may "find tongues in trees; books 

 in the running brooks; sermons in stones, and good in every- 

 thing." 



As we inquire into the mysteries of the plant life that is so abund- 

 ant about us, perhaps we may discern, to us, some new truth, 

 which Leibig says is adding a new science; but we cannot expect 

 to fully comprehend and fathom nature's mysteries, for that is the 

 lesson to be learned in the myriads of years yet to-come. 



The first object of interest that greets us is the apple tree, for it 

 seems to have had the most ancient and mystical history of all 

 trees, as it made its advent upon earth before man, and, when man 

 did appear, it was the means of getting up the greatest revolution 

 the earth has ever known. The apple is mentioned often in the 

 old testament. Solomon says "stay me with flagons, comfort me 

 with apples;" and again, " As the apple tree among the trees of 

 the wood, so is my beloved among the sons." The apple has mi- 

 grated from the east to the west with man, and it still goes march- 

 ing on. It can truly be called the most healthful, useful and deli- 

 cious fruit grown. 



In 1836 in the horticultural garden of London, more than 1,400 

 varieties of apples were exhibited. The number of varieties in 

 our country even exceeds that. Probably hundreds of apple trees 

 in what is now known as Ohio, Illinois and Michigan, owe their 

 origin to an eccentric individual commonly called Johnny Apple- 

 seed (Jonathan Chapman), who in 1801 transferred in two canoes, 

 lashed together, on horseback, and on foot, bushels of apple seeds 

 from the cider mills of Pennsylvania to the frontier. The lone 

 traveler stopped at every inviting spot to plant the seeds, traveling 



