THE 



FLORICULTURAL CABINET, 



AUGUST 1st, 1839. 



PART 1. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



ARTICLE I. 



ON THE PLEASURE AND PROFIT ARISING FROM CULTIVATING 

 PLANTS AND FLOWERS. 



BV MR. W. WOODMANS6Y, HARPHAM, NEAR BRIDLINGTON, YORKSHIRE. 



It was a saying of the celebrated Stbkne, "that most people 

 have their hobby-horses;" the literal meaning of which I take to 

 be, that most people have their favorite pursuits, or amusements ; 

 and so long as these pursuits or amusements, are compatible 

 with our duty to God as Christians, and militate not against the 

 welfare of our fellow men ; so far are tbey innocent, rational, and 

 profitable. Among all the various amusements which this fasci- 

 nating world holds out, I think none is more innocent, more 

 rational, or more profitable, than the cultivation of flowers: those 

 beautiful gems with which our divine Creator has studded our 

 meadows, and kindly furnished to beautify our gardens ; whose 

 brilliant colors vie with the rainbow, and infinitely surpass the 

 most costly tints, and whose balmy fragrance scents the surround- 

 ing atmosphere with perfumes more agreeable than the spices of 

 Arabia! Who can behold their exquisite symmetry ? Who can 

 admire their diversified yet splendid colors? Or, who can feast 

 his senses on the aromatic sweets which emanate from their 

 beautiful blooms, without feeling a sort of sacred pleasure stealing 

 imperceptibly into his very soul, and leading its finest feelings 

 willing captives to their inimitable charms? 



It is said, and very truly too, that the study of Astronomy, that 

 sublime science, which teaches the various revolutions of those 



Vol. VII. No. 7>i. w 



