36 FLORA HISTORICA. 



much engaged in the culture of rare plants, known 

 ones have too frequently been neglected. 



How forcibly does the sight of the Pink carry 

 our imagination back to the well-known cottages 

 of our infant days, and how often does the picture 

 present itself, showing where 



A path, with Pinks and Daisies trimm'd, 

 Led from the homely entrance-gate ; 



The door, worm-eaten and decay'd, 

 Bespoke the tenant's low estate. 



It is in such situations that flowers have the 

 power of delighting the English traveller, because 

 in most other parts of the world he finds his fellow- 

 creatures too often debarred from these innocent 

 luxuries, that endear his home to the English cot- 

 tager, and render his limited bounds a sufficient 

 substitute for a proud domain. "With what pride 

 and satisfaction do we see him regard his plants on 

 the morning of a fine sabbath-day, surrounded by 

 his neatly-clad family, or collecting a nosegay for 

 the charitable wife of his employer. These are 

 scenes that are tlie particular boast of England, 

 but, like the Pink, they require careful attention 

 to prevent their degeneration. Give the cottager 

 a garden, and you bar up the ale-house ; for the 

 mind of the most illiterate man will occupy itself in 

 leisure, and when domestic employ is not found to 

 amuse, idle politics arc sure to attract to the che- 

 quered post. 



