500 



A FEW WORDS TO BEGINNERS 



our fine American pears are accidental 

 seedlings ; sometimes the result of the ef- 

 fects of a new soil and climate on the pro- 

 geny of an old variety ; sometimes the result 

 of a cross, effected hy proximity of a couple of 

 good sorts. And there is no doubt that the 

 mode he suggests would produce fine varie- 

 ties. 



We understand Mr. Walker, however, 

 to suggest this as an easy mode for popular 

 use ; for the use of those, in short, who will 

 not set about the matter in a more scientific 



way. To the latter, our correspondent and 

 ourselves would agree in recommending 

 the careful crossing of the hardiest and best 

 of the old sorts to produce new ones. Every 

 physiologist is aware that this is as easily 

 done in the vegetable as in the animal 

 kingdom ; and yet, though many flowers 

 have been raised, we do not know of a sin- 

 gle fruit that has been originated directly 

 in this way in the United States, — saving 

 only Dr. Brinckle's raspberries and straw- 

 berries. Ed.] 



A FEW WORDS TO BEGINNERS. 



BY HENRY W. BEECHER, BROOKLYN, N. Y. 



It is a long time since we have had the 

 pleasure of seeing anything on our favorite 

 topics from Mr. Beecher's pen, which was 

 wont to delight and instruct us in the pages 

 of the Western Farmer and Gardener. But 

 here is an article, which we take from the 

 columns of the Independent, full of pith, and 

 in the old vein, which we gladly preserve 

 in our pages. Ed. 



Nothing more surely defeats an incipient 

 taste for flower culture than a rash begin- 

 ning. If one is pinched for room, or for 

 money, they are in a very good way. They 

 will have to begin moderately. A few 

 flowers, finely grown, for a single season, 

 will generally fix a person irrecoverably. 

 But, however fine the taste and sincere the 

 relish, if one begins their practical cultiva- 

 tion by crowding their garden with a mul- 

 titude of different plants, requiring very di- 

 verse treatment, the result will be great 

 expense, much labor and confusion; and 

 after all the industry, it will be so divided 

 as to avail but little for anything. When 

 the season closes, the remembrance of the 

 flower campaign will be a reminiscence of 

 confusion, of starvling plants, choked with 

 weeds, pitiable blossoms, scrambling vines, 

 poorly trained ; seed lost, and roots not se- 

 cured. And what between neglect, weeds, 



insects, drouth, or floods of rain, and mur- 

 derous frosts, the winter will find you be- 

 reaved of one-half of your dearly bought 

 favorites. 



The consequence will be that disgust 

 will follow injudicious enthusiasm. Wise 

 people who always despised such trifles, 

 and wondered that people would waste 

 time in a garden, will shake their heads, 

 pat your cheeks, and say, " you see what 

 comes of such nonsense." Wherefore, we 

 beseech all beginners to take heed how 

 they begin. 



For their help, we will suggest a few 

 considerations. 



Begin with plants that require the least 

 knowledge and care. Hardy perennials, 

 vines — such are the Honeysuckle, the Gly- 

 cine or Wistaria, Ivy, Trumpet Creeper, 

 Clematis, &c. 



Shrubs are also to be chosen before seeds ; 

 Roses, Syringas, Spireas, Tartarian honey- 

 suckles, Snowballs, Rose-acacia, Althe- 

 as, &c. 



The peculiar excellence of these plants 

 is to be found, not alone in their continuous 

 supply of brilliant flowers and foliage, but 

 in the fact that they will very nearly take 

 care of themselves. A little pruning, a spring 

 dressing of manure, and an occasional stir- 

 ring of the earth, will be all that is required 

 of the possessor. This may be no special 



