WINTER MEETING, 1877. 53 



of colors ill the eye. For a brilliant efYcct it is unsurpassecl. There are many 

 varieties of flowers that are self sown, and <^erininate nninvited, that crop out 

 in nnexpected places with such cheerful courage tiiat few have the hardiliood to 

 expel them, and they crowd out other varieties. The aster genus is exceedingly 

 numerous in species, comprising all the colors of the rainbow, and deriving its 

 name from its radiating apiicarance. Its po}>ularity is increasing, and for an 

 autumn sliow it is almost unequaled. But we are apt to get enthusiastic over 

 any special favorite and proclaim its wonders abroad. Of this family many 

 species are enumerated. For variety may be sown lobelia, mignonnette, candy- 

 tuft, and hosts of others too numerous to mention. Then a very common plant 

 in most farm gardens, the stem erect and branching with lance ovate leaves, 

 flowers solitary, red, white, and pink, and good for winter drying, is the globe 

 amaranth. Then there are petunias of every variety, and those arrant truants 

 the portulaccas, no sunny fence side being too hot for them, they glow there 

 like bits of shattered rainbow. 



Althea rosea is too well known to need description. Its flowers are much 

 admired by some, and it pi'esents to the eye brilliant colors of every hue. So 

 "we might enumerate. We have balsams and zinnias, all favorite exotics of the 

 flower garden ; then perennials and biennials, with carnations and delphiniums, 

 and in each flower there is something original, something to distinguish it from 

 evei'y other one, even of the same family. Each individual flower has its pecu- 

 liar characteristics, and is adorned with a beauty and grace peculiarly its own. 

 In a group of flowers there is a resemblance to show that they are one family, 

 yet each one of whom is distinguished from the other by some peculiar charm. 

 In all the floral kingdom we cannot find two flowers exactly alike in form and 

 color. Let me, therefore, entreat you to encourage their culture as well as 

 study their forms and beauty. Endeavor to surround your dwelling with 

 twining vines or graceful climbing plants, remembering that there is no place 

 so rude as not to be refined by their presence, and none so adorned as not to be 

 graced by their beauty and fragrance. 



Mr. Thomas. — I am a very plain man, and perhaps most of you would not 

 think from a gaze at my exterior that I am a passionate lover of flowers, but 

 there is nothing in which I take greater delight, and from a long experience in 

 farm life I can say that although I have given a great many hours to the culti- 

 vation of flowers, the time thus spent has been by no means lost. I am no 

 poorer for my flower garden. I am richer in all that makes my life worth liv- 

 ing for. And when any man excuses himself from assisting his wife and 

 children to arrange a flower garden, or borders of annuals in the lawn, because 

 he has no time for such foolish things, I set him down as one who does not take 

 any broad ground in matters of real economy. I look upon economy as some- 

 thing that applies to more than a man's pocket-book, it looks to the health and 

 happiness of his family, and it is my conviction that there is nothing connected 

 with farm life that has more elements of true economy in it than the plan of 

 spending time and thought among the flowers. I do not mean that large 

 amounts of money shall be expended for novelties, and varieties, but I refer 

 to the plain common plants and flowers that cost little save care, and attention 

 and affection, which give an abundance of bloom that can be transferred to 

 the house to give life and beauty to the loneliest hours, and make home more 

 attractive and pleasant. 



