i> EDITOR'S TABir. 



well informed and mentally eultivnted for that As for boots, they have been brought up among 

 tliem, if with no other refined surroundings; and their young minds are imbued with a proper 

 appreciation of the value and treatment of things useful and bcatitiful. 51y choicest book^ arti- 

 cles of bijouterie — the gifts of other days — engraviiig>», scrap books, collections of heibals and 

 aliTJi", lie within reach of little hands, not sealed books or tabooed article.^ but uriliariiicd by any 

 particular marks of spoliation and soilization. 



As to the "tiles," we are not civilized enough yet to tell from experience whose are best Mr, 

 Jons Johnston, of Geneva, N. Y., can perhaps give you more practical information. 



You'll have to think again before you find any thing in your pei-fect home that we can't got 

 along with, rude as you may fancy us in our backwoods retreat. From your inuendoes I mis- 

 trust you have some little inkling that we should appear exceedingly brusque, staring and distrait 

 among your elegancies. I ehall have to solicit tliat "introduction," to prove to j'ou what 

 elegance and refinement can come out of Wisconsin woods, and how perfectly at ease I can tread 

 your velvet carpets, and recline on your rose-wood and damask. 



I laugh in derision at your knowing any practical definition of the word %rork — and fearing 

 that we shall have more than we can attend to — and you not finding enough to do to keep off 

 the gout Neither the physical exercise, the heart work, or head work can frighten us. Your 

 letter is so suggestive, containing so many luminous points, I can scarce dilate upon them indi- 

 vidually; but grouping them generally, fear not to answer affirmatively. Your category of 

 queries already propounded is well nigh sufficient to analyse my capabilities for the station I 

 should by this change occupy I might turn the tables, and ask you whole pages of questions 

 and give you sheets full of hints, but I forbear. I would not wound you by questioning your 

 talents and efficiency. 



One word, however, concerning that wild flower garden I so wish to possess. You will help 

 me to this, will you not? Tliese lovely embellishments adorning our little prairies and extended 

 woods, beautiful in many of their varieties as some costly exotics, are fast receding under the 

 encroachments of civilized bipeds and quadrupeds. What a pleasant task to study the consti- 

 tution and habits of their manifold species, and apportion to each that regime which will induce 

 them to multiply and blossom in all their native luxuriance. 



I make no special allusions or arrangements for iJ/rs. Atticus. Knowing by world wide report, 

 to say nothing of experimental knowledge, that woman is ever disinterestedly devoted, full of 

 noble abnegation, it would seem a libel to ask if a wife were equal to any degree of self-sacrifice 

 and renunciation, to cure a heart-sick, head-sick, or gout-sick husband. 



Sundry undeferrable occupations of my life of actualities have caused this late reply to 

 yours. Elsie. — Woodssdr, Waukesha, Winconsin. 



Notiits of 33ooIts, ^ampljlrts, &t. 



Critisoism. — A friend sends us the following notice of EllioVs Fruit Bool; cut from The 

 Independent, Dr. Beecher's popular newspaper, requesting its insertion in our columns, as 

 it touches upon some points to which our notice did not allude. We give place to it with 

 pleasure, not for the sake of what is said of Elliot's book, but because it touches upon 

 certain subjects which have an important and general bearing upon American Horticulture 

 and Pomology, It says: — 



"The respects in which this work deseiTes notice are: — 



" 1. The addition which it makes to the list of Apples and Cherries, of native sorts. We think, 

 however, that many of them are prematurely favorites. 



" 2. In the science of description, Mr. Elliot has employed, in the chapters on the Apple 



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