122 ANNUAL REPORT. 
of farm culture. As the garden was the first farm so was it the first element to 
stimulate men to do the fair thing by mother earth. Horticulture has a civil- 
izing or humanizing effect; it has asanitary influence, and if properly taken in 
hand; has an important position in the financial economy of general agriculture. 
A partof the farmer's profession, then, that develops the kindlier feelings of 
human nature, that administers to the health and comfort of his family, and at 
the same time adds to the store of wealth, must attract his careful attention and 
be worthy of his earnest support. 
I take it for granted that every farmer wishes to see his family under moral 
influence; wishes to see them enjoying good health; wishes them prosperity. Is 
there anything else of humen life? And now the question arises here, how 
shall we make a practical application of the theory enunciated? I am not here 
to theorize, but will attempt to go with you to your own homes, show you wha} 
you have there, and what you might have. 
Time, Midsummer. Drive out from your city in any direction, only let us go 
out among the prosperous or well-to-do farmers. We pass by a number of farms, 
some showing evidences of taste and culture, some entirely the reverse. We 
stop finally at one that seems to be about the average. There is an air of thrift 
about the place in some respects. The buildings are comfortable, the stock 
seems well fed and the farm implements in sufficient number to indicate exten- 
sive operations. So far all is well, but we are there as critics and are going to 
be alittle particular. We hitch our horses to the fence because we are afraid 
that the hitching post won't hold. We enter the gateway—the gate of which 
lacks a hinge, but as our host meets us and understands the peculiarities of that 
gate, we get along first rate. The contour of the ground is perfect. A gentle 
slope from the house to the road. A hill covered with trees in the distant 
back ground. A profile of undulation springing out at either side. Nature did 
her share—let us see how our host has lent a helping hand. 
A path as straight as an arrow leads from the gate to the front door, but as 
this is not the popular entrance, the path forks within a rod of the house and 
brings us to a side porch. The walk was originally laid out four feet wide, and 
a straight row of evergreens planted within four feet of the walk on either side; 
these have grown until we are compelled to walk in a narrow path, single file, 
to avoid their branches. Outside of these lines of evergreens the ragged relics 
of a few ornamental shrubs growing in the sod. The decayed remains of the 
fence board edgings, mark the spot when the place was new, and ambition yet 
had a place in the wife’s heart, a flower had cheered the scene. Now, a few 
hardy herbaceous plants, a paceny and a dicentra keep mastery over the weeds. 
The evergreens show signs of horn and tooth, the flower beds the deep imprint 
of heavy hoof. There is a liberal expanse of lawn, but it is so thickly planted 
with trees that it is mown with difficulty, and the ripened Timothy and Red Top 
with seedless heads, present the appearance of waste to say the least. This 
grass plot would yield half a ton of good hay. This waste, as the waste always 
does, has added materially to the unsightliness of the lawn. We continue along 
the path and find our way to the side entrance to the house. Here is located the 
pump, here the wash bench, and we are obliged to walk on a row of flat stones 
laid down to keep our shoes from the mud of the kitchen slops. Two or three 
thrifty young Berkshires are nosing around, watching for a chance to upset the 
swill pail. They stop their rooting as we approach, throw up their heads while 
munching a bit of purslane or pigweed wink at us with their pig eyes, and won- 
