1857.] Settle Down. 563 



from the air; that, in order to keep them well, they should be 

 wrapped up in brown paper, or some other porous material. Mr. 

 Archer stated that the seeds sent from China in air-tight vessels al- 

 ways ftiiled to germinate. Some seeds kept much better than others. Mr. 

 Ogilby stated that some seeds germinated the better for being kept. 

 Mr. Nevins and Mr. Moore both confirmed this statement, and said 

 that gardeners were in the habit of keeping cucumber and melon 

 seeds in their pockets, in order to insure their more efficient 

 germination. 



SETTLE DOWN. 



Not contented with old acquirement and satisfied, not to make 

 efi'ort to improve. We have been too restless — feverish — migratory. 

 " Well enough," has not been let alone. Will the lessons of the 

 past ninety day change us? Are we to become wiser and more 

 staid in our habits? Have we been sowing our "wild oats?" One 

 good result that we hope to see growing out of past experience, is 

 that of permanent settlement — the investment of our surplus at 

 hume, in improvements. We have written before, that before we can 

 become contented and intelligent as a nation of agriculturists, we 

 must learn to love our occupation and follow it rather as a pleasure 

 than a necessity — bring to bear all the resources at our command in 

 the adornment of our grounds, and the cultivation of the beautiful 

 about our homes. We must not only love home because of its 

 beauties, but because of its associations. Those associations must 

 be based upon the hightest intellectual and moral cultivation. 



Any thing beautiful is refining to the mind that comes in contact 

 with it, and the surroundings of home are the surest index of the 

 mental and moral character of the family. Religion, with its holy 

 hopes, and beautifying influences, may be read in the arrangement, 

 and care bestowed upon that most loved of all earthly places. We 

 know issue will be taken at this assertion. But there is not one 

 instance in ten, but we can tell the religious character of the farmer 

 by the manner in which he has fitted up his home. Devotion will 

 speak to us through tell-tale nature, if the man loves the God of 



