12 6 FLO WE RING SHRUBS. 



our native woods and wilds to a foreign country, there cherished and 

 cared for, improved by cultivation, and returned to us increased in 

 value. It would greatly enhance the pleasure of cultivation if we were 

 ourselves, able to show native flowers and shrubs and fruits, rendered 

 equal to the imported kinds by our own culture. 



We might compare these wild plants to the neglected children of 

 our poorest classes. In the degradation arising from their uncared for 

 state they become as moral weeds in the great garden of life, neglected 

 and passed by, left to run wild, and shunned ; but remove these children 

 to a more genial atmosphere ; let them be taught the value of their souls, 

 for which so great a price was paid by their Redeemer ; let them be 

 clothed and fed, and cared for, made to feel that they are not despised 

 in the eyes of their fellow men ; then their useful qualities brought into 

 action, and their vices and evil passions controlled, like the wild 

 plants, they will rise in value, and beauty, and usefulness, becoming 

 precious trees bearing fruit to the glory of Almighty God — sought out 

 and desired of all men. Who will cultivate and improve this garden of 

 human growth ? Must it continue a wilderness, rank and injurious, full 

 of deadly poisons and unripe, crude and bitter fruits ; while within it, 

 choked and hidden from view, are the germs of usefulness, beauty, and 

 happiness, that only require the better soil, the fostering care, and 

 gladdening sunshine of christian love and kindness, to make them what 

 their Creator would have them all to be ? Truly "the harvest is great 

 but the husbandmen are few." 



Allusions to the grape-vine and vineyards are of frequent occurrence 

 in Scripture. Many and beautiful are the passages where the ancient 

 church is symbolized by the poetical figures of the vine and the vine- 

 yard. How touchint.', is the appeal made by the prophet to the rebel- 

 lious and idolatrous people in the fifth chapter of the book of Isaiah. 



"And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and ye, men of Judah, 

 judge I pray you betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been 

 done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it ? Wherefore when 

 I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes." 



Beautiful are the allusions made in the song of Solomon, in his 

 invitation to the beloved to go forth to the garden he had planted. 

 " The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vine with the tender 

 grapes give a good smell. Arise my love, my fair one, and come away." 



"Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vines 

 flourish, whether the tender grapes appear." 



Probably the culture of the vine was among the earliest labours of 

 the husbandman, and must have been of most ancient usage, the first 



