134 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



before it is too late. Many localities in the older states, and even many in the new 

 ones of the West, where once the choicest wild flowers abounded and bloomed in the 

 wildest profusion, are now destitute of them : not even a trace of them is to be found ; 

 they have as completely disappeared before the onward inarch of the white man as the 

 red man has, whose war path they decorated, and whose wilderness home they enam- 

 eled from time immemorial. The work of destruction is still going on. 



"Tear by year they are crowded into narrower limits, and unless the rescuing hand 

 is soon piit forth, they, like the red man, their companion through the indefinite past, 

 will live only in story and in song." 



All plants are wild somewhere, or grow spontaneously. What is common to us may 

 be rare in other countries. The mullein, of but little beauty in each floweret, but a 

 brave plant, growing cheerfully and heartily out of abandoned soils, ruffling its roots 

 with broad-palmed generous velvet leaves, and erecting therefrom a spire that always 

 inclines us to stop for a kindly look. This fine plant is entirely neglected by us, but in 

 other countries it is &fl noer, and called the " American velvet plant." In my child- 

 hood days, when I held a queer belief, picked up somewhere, that flowers were fairies, 

 the Tbistle was always the prince of the story. But farmers and gardeners have no 

 love for the tall, stylish plant, and have, doubtless, rightly declared against it, a war of 

 extermination. I would not advise the planting of either mullein or thistles. There 

 are many more beautiful wild flowers, and more suited to the garden. Anemones, wild 

 violets, spring beauties, the American cowslip, etc. For a list of our native flowers, 

 let me again refer you to Mr. Tice's essay in the Agricultural Report of Missouri for 

 1865. 



Most essays on flowers are addresed to women in a hygienic point of view. They are 

 directed to floriculture as a matter of duty. If you work in the garden j'ou will be 

 healthy, seems to be the text. My only objection is, it appears to be making a duty of 

 what should only he a pleasure, though, of course, all duties should be pleasures. Why 

 not recommend the culture of flowers for their beauty only ? Let us sometimes forget 

 utility, if we do live in the last half of the nineteenth century. A few hours spent in the 

 garden, away from the petty cares of housekeeping, would doubtless conduce to mental, 

 if not physical health, by taking the cobwebs out of the brain, and our thoughts from 

 dwelling on our special grievances. 



To those engaged in literary pursuits, the flower garden is a real blessing. Books are 

 the great agents of civilization. They are the silent teachers of mankind, filling the 

 mind with wisdom, and strengthening the understanding for the strife of action, making 

 us powerful and gentle, wise and humble, at the same time. But we can not be always 

 buried in our hooks. We must sometimes go out into the sunshine, and it is necessary 

 in order to enjoy our books, that we should also enjoy the privilege of air and light, 

 drinking in health and vigor to enable us to make the best and most profitable use of 

 our sedentary hours. 



In direct opposition to books, or, rather, in secret combination with them, are flowers. 

 The out-door book, Nature, has so liberally provided for us in so rich a variety of types 

 and bindings, as to leave no excuse for not gratifying our individual tastes. The lover 

 of flowers has this advantage over the lover of books, that he can never be at a loss for 

 variety ; but the classification is somewhat arbitrary, and there is hardly any one who 

 loves the one, hut also loves the other. The best way to enjoy either is to enjoy both ; 

 to take them alternately, so that they may relieve and show off each other to the best 

 advantage. 



