HORTICULTURE FOR THE PEOPLE. 49? 



went to a neighboring nursery, and by a great stretch of liberality, as he 

 thought, expended in ornamental trees and shrubs the huge sum of five dollars 

 currency. He had been taught or had taught himself to believe that it was a 

 waste of funds to buy trees that were merely "good to look at," although he 

 had put several thousand dollars in piles of brick and stucco for uo other pur- 

 pose whatever thau show. A twentieth part of the amount thus needlessly 

 expended would have given him a valuable fruit garden, and have invested his 

 dwelling with a paradise of rich foliage, and with tlie bloom and perfume of 

 flowers. Tlie truth was, he had never read a horticultural book or journal, 

 nor enltivated the dormant taste, often smothered down and undeveloped, 

 which naturally exists in the bosom of nearly every human being. I say nearly 

 every one, for there seem to be a few in whom, from some deficient phrenologi- 

 cal development, or from some other cause, a refined taste for these beauties of 

 nature seems to be totally extinct, and such should claim our sympathy for 

 this natural deprivation. I have had occasion to contrast this bleak and stately 

 mansion with some neat and small dwellings, erected at a tenth the expense, 

 surrounded with all the attractions of masses of soft sfreen foliasre and cluster- 

 ing flowers. 



Lord Bacon never said a truer thing than when he asserted that nations, in 

 their onward progress in civilization, began with erecting stately edifices, and 

 ended, with highly cultivated gardens. Some twenty years ago I made a tour 

 through some of the western States, and drove through towns and cities and 

 their suburbs, to see the well kept and finished gardens and grounds. But I 

 was disappointed. Tiie gorgeous palaces were not wanting, but the surround- 

 ings were bare or unpolished. But these things are of the past, — a brighter era 

 of refined horticulture has diiwned. Civilization, according to Lord Bacon's 

 criterion, is advancing; and the substantial charms and refining influences of 

 the garden, are becoming widely and rapidly diffused. 



EVERT MAX CA]S" PLA]S"T. 



Every man in this country has these delights and advantages within his 

 reach. X. P. Willis very justly observed that " Nature lets the tree grow and 

 the flower expand for man, without reference to his account at the bank." 

 Every man, in health, in this country, can have land enough and means 

 enough to exercise his skill in cultivation. We too often fall into the error of 

 thinking that one must be positively wealthy in order to enjoy a well planted 

 and a well kept home. Every person may have a comfortable competence as 

 he advances in years. Suppose that a young man at twenty-one begins merely 

 as a day laborer. If he can lay up only a hundred dollars yearly, and add 

 interest to interest at 7 per cent, he will, in 40 years, or at the age of 61, have 

 accumulated no less than $^^0,000. Many, however, will easily lay aside $200 

 a year, in which case they would have, at 61 years, $40,000. There are some 

 leaks which a prudent man will stop, and thus add to the accumulations. 

 Suppose, for example, he is willing to forego the use of tobacco, which may 

 happen to cost him but 120 3'early, — this saving alone will amount to $4,000 

 in his life time of 40 years. These facts show that every industrious person 

 may at least secure for himself a pleasant and comfortable home. If a 

 mechanic, he can purchase a small lot of laud ; if a farmer, a few acres will 

 suffice to gather around his home all that may be desired of fine fruit and 

 blooming ornamentals. 



