322 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. . 



has profaned, have tasted a Sharpless or a Bid well, with the dew of heaven still 

 cooling its sides, after you have carefully tested the " true inwardness " of a 

 strawberry short-cake, you will, if the slices have been ample, benignantly 

 contemplate the expansion of your waistcoat, and exclaim with Tiny Tim, 

 " God bless us, every one." 



The following are the closing paragraphs of a delightful paper read by Mrs. 

 S. J. Blount, on the 



EMBELLISHMENT OF HOMES. 



There are many ways of beautifying home, as we all know, but it seems to 

 me the least expensive way and that which has the best and most lasting effect 

 for good, on the character, as impressing the senses through the medium of 

 vision is beautifying the exterior of the home, the yard and garden. The 

 prettiness of the interior is too often marred, in this, that it is too fine for every- 

 day enjoyment, especially by those on whom its effect would be the strongest for 

 good or evil, namely, the children. 



To have a pretty yard requires but a little outlay of time or money, the 

 plow and harrow and scraper, a few loads of earth perhaps, and a small 

 amount of lawn grass seed, and the yard will be a joy and a pride to the 

 family the season through and a pleasure and inspiration to every passer by. 



Trees grow rapidly and afford a grateful shade and if the children are 

 allowed to assist in their planting and taught to do it carefully and skillfully, 

 they have learned a useful lesson and will love home better for feeling they 

 have an interest in the things that pertain to and beautify it. Flowers, ever 

 beautiful, appeal to our better natures with mute but strong power. What 

 pleasure in tending them and watching their gradual development from the 

 tiny seed to the delicate, fragrant blossom. In the care of flowers the little 

 ones will learn many lessons, receive many good impressions. Industry, per- 

 severance, patience, cheerfulness, good management, all these practical lessons 

 come, imperceptibly, and will leave a lasting impress upon the character, taste, 

 neatness, order, a love for the beautiful will be developed, gentleness too, and 

 generosity. One can hardly imagine a lover of flowers as a selfish person. To 

 bestow flowers upon those who have none, yet appreciate these treasures, is a 

 pleasure without alloy, a rare thing in this world. It is strange how few, com- 

 paratively, make use of this most inexpensive yet effective means of beautify- 

 ing their homes. The only sign of flowers in very many yards is a tangled, 

 neglected patch of roses struggling for existence with weeds and grass, yet 

 what is more beautiful than a few well tended clumps of roses of various hues 

 scattered about a well kept lawn. What is so charming as a pansy bed with 

 its almost human faces upturned toward you ? Where is more delightful fra- 

 grance than in the blossom of the sweet pea, or the modest lily of the valley ? 

 In annuals there is an almost endless array of bloom from early spring until 

 frost comes, and an endless source of pleasure to the true flower lover. In 

 climbers there is none more beautiful, or easily grown, or more willing to shut 

 the hot sun rays from your window, or cover some unsightly spot than the 

 morning glory, rightly named, for it is indeed the glory of the morning. I can 

 imagine no fairer sight than a vine covered trellis, every leaf covered with dew, 

 sparkling in the rising sun and the whole gemmed over with the silken bells, 

 "blue and purple, pink and white." In perennials, which require even less 

 care than annuals, are besides the queenly rose, the lilac, purple and white, 



