STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 291 



from the ground ; to the next 12 ; to the next 18. All the frnit is between the first and 

 second wires, and nil seemed to ripen about alike. 



Alton — Thinks low vines ripened frnit as well as high in his vineyard. 



Hathaway — Has a vine with portions trained at different distances from the ground. 

 Can see no difference in quality of fruit or ripening. 



March. — President Hammond read the monthly essay, subject: 



HOME ADORNMENT. 

 r A love for trees and plants and flowers is natural to every refined and well developed 

 mind. This principle may often be dwarfed, or well nigh extinguished by the greed 

 of gain, the eager haste to be rich, which characterizes us, as a nation. But the latent 

 spark remains. Can wc not bring some influence to bear that shall bring this latent 

 principle into action ? This is a question that deserves our serious consideration. 



1 shall in this essay, particularly urge upon the farmers the importance of improving 

 and adorning their homes, and attempt to show the peculiar facilities they possess for 

 accomplishing the work, as well as the influence it may be expected to exert on them- 

 selves and their families. 



There seems to be a prevalent belief that tasteful buildings and attractive surroundings 

 do not belong to the lot of the humble tiller of the soil. That his calling is strictly util- 

 itarian, and that he has not the taste to appreciate, or the capability to enjoy Pomona's 

 choicest treasures, or Flora's brightest gifts. Shall we accept the position thus popularly 

 assigned us? Shall we always plod and drudge ? Shall wc close our eyes to the beauti- 

 ful creations that surround us? Shall we stop our ears to the music of nature? Or 

 when the fragrance of the blooming orchard as it floats on the morning breeze rivaling 

 the delicious fragrance of the gardens of the Orient, is wafted to us shall wc refuse to 

 enjoy it ? Rather let us drink at these pure fountains of pleasure, and find here the 

 relaxation we need from the stern and uncongenial duties of life. 



The farmer needs relaxation ; without it he becomes prematurely old, and where shall 

 he find it better than in his orchard and garden, among his trees and flowers, watching 

 their ever changing forms and increasing loveliness ? The care and culture of them, ele- 

 vates and refines his mind, and surrounds his home with associations of beauty. It 

 transforms a bleak and uninviting aspect into a garden of Eden. It should be the aim 

 of every man to have a happy, pleasant home. And everyone that owns an acre of 

 land, however humble his circumstances, has certain means and materials at his disposal, 

 which if properly used will give a cheerful, homelike aspect to his dwelling. We have 

 seen a honeysuckle, or climbing rose give to a rude, unpainted house an air of cbccrfrtl- 

 ncss and rural beauty that is quite wanting in many of the pretentious houses our 

 wealthy farmers build. 



The adornment of their homes contributes in no small degree to the improvement of a 

 people, by the moral influence it exercises upon them. Whatever makes home pleasant 

 and attractive, lessens the temptation to stray into paths of evil. Tippling houses^ 

 gambling hells and dens of darker deeds do not draw their victims from congenial, happy 

 homes. It is not here that wayward boys and girls are trained. But the children of un- 

 happy homes fall easy victims to the tempter, and are often led astray by evil associates. 



It has often been remarked by travelers that they could distinguish families of intelli- 

 gence and refinement by the appearance of the house and grounds. The house, perhaps 



