20 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



go there, for you cannot get through it, or even into it, on account 

 of the weeds." His words were almost literally true. The weeds 

 were from two to six feet high and as thick as they could possibly 

 grow. He had about seventy-five acres of corn, and I have not 

 a doubt that there were more weeds upon one-half an acre in his 

 garden, or upon the spot where he was supposed to have a garden, 

 than could be found upon the whole of his corn field. In these 

 cases, and there are many of them, not only among our large farm- 

 ers but among those of more moderate circumstances, it is not 

 only a want of time, but a false idea that a man can be better em- 

 ployed than in spending a portion of his time in such a manner 

 that it will bring no cash return. During the cares and the labors 

 of the days and the weeks, there seems to be no time to spare for 

 anything except the actual care of the farm; and in this way the 

 years roll on, until at length even the taste and the desire for a 

 beautiful home have passed away. Old age comes on, accompanied 

 by a fine farm and plenty of means, and yet that family has never 

 known the comforts and pleasures of a pleasant and happy home, 

 one adorned with such beauties and comforts as every farmer in 

 even moderate circumstances might and ought to have. 



There is another class of farmers who always intend to have a 

 fine garden, with plenty of fruits, flowers, shrubbery, shade trees, 

 lawns, etc., but they are not quite ready to do it yet. They cannot 

 even commence such a work this spring, but they fully intend to do 

 it at some future time. If such a one should be induced to plant a 

 garden and take a few steps in this direction, the probabilities are 

 that in the fall following, the garden would be a good place in which 

 to hunt rabbits, except for the fact that it would be nearly or quite 

 impossible to follow them through the mass of weeds and rubbish 

 ■with which it would be covered. As a general rule, the farming of 

 this class of men will be a little in advance of their gardening, still 

 it will be far from good. They work hard and really intend to do 

 what is in their power to have a pleasant home; and if they had the 

 right kind of neighbors and surroundings, they would often succeed 

 in making a pleasant and a pretty home. 



There is still another class of farmers, who not only always fail to 

 have a pretty home, but likewise fail to have good crops or a good 

 farm, or at least to have them for any considerable length of time. 

 If they live near a town or village, you will almost surely find them 



