Repokts of Local Societies. 323 



table covered with magazines, music and periodicals; vases of flow- 

 ers on the mantle; the ladies cultivated and intelligent, able to 

 converse on almost any subject, and all has an air "of refined 

 culture that throws a charm around the whole house, that unites 

 and attracts the family to each other, and to their home, so that it 

 is hard to sever the ties of affection that bind them together. You 

 seldom see children thus brought up, wander off into loose and dis- 

 solute ways; their home attractions are too strong a tie to be severed. 

 "When at last, after a long and useful life, he passes away, he leaves 

 a void that is widely felt by a large circle of sympathizing friends. 

 It is the loss of a good and useful citizen, who has been a benefactor 

 to the age in which he lived; and he leaves behind an influence 

 that will be useful for generations to come. 



The reading of this paper being concluded, the excellent hostess, 

 Mrs. Rowbotham, made the welcome announcement that dinner was 

 ready, whereupon the intellectual part of the festival was at once 

 suspended, and the members and visitors promptly repaired to the 

 dining room, where the honors challenged' by the groaning tables 

 were obsecpuiously awarded with abundant gust, but not a wrinkle 

 of disgust. 



Dinner duties deftly done, the society was again called to order 

 and proceeded with its " feast of reason and flow of soul," and the 

 following paper was read by our president: 



WHAT KIND OF A GARDEN SHOULD THE FARMER 



HAVE? 



By J. M. SMITH. 



Ladies and Gentlemen: In considering this question, we will 

 suppose that the farmer's family numbers from six to ten persons; 

 that he has a farm of from 80 to 160 acres, and can afford sufficient 

 space for a good sized garden, without in any manner interfering 

 with his general crops. Suppose we select an acre of good land, or 

 such land as can be made good by drainage, manure, and good cul- 

 tivation. It should be near the house, and, if it can be had, I pre- 

 fer a sandy loam, as it will be easier to work, and the crops will be 

 a little earlier than if planted upon either a heavy loam or a dry 



