82 ON THE PLEASURES AND ADVANTAGES OF FLORICULTURE. 



ARTICLE III. 



ON THE PLEASURES AND ADVANTAGES OF FLORICULTURE. 



BY J. HAL!., JUN., SHEFFIELD. 



" Not a tree, 

 A plant, a leaf, a blossom, but contains 

 A folio volume. We may read, and read. 

 And read again, and still find something new. 

 Something to learn, and something to digest, 

 E'en in the humble weed." 



As the "year advances, and spring once more resumes her seat, 

 bringing along with her " the soft'ning dews, the tender showers," 

 and all the early tokens of reviving nature, what a train of pleasur- 

 able thoughts and anticipations crowd upon the mind of the florist. 

 To him every leaf and every bud has a charm and interest ; every- 

 thing is lovely and full of promise ; and as he gazes, with rapturous 

 eyes, on the unfolding beauties around him, and watches from day 

 to day the continual disclosures of " Nature's swift and secret- 

 working hand," he is led to exclaim, with the heart-felt gratitude of 

 Thomson, — 



" Come, gentle Spring, ethereal mildness, come ! 

 And from the bosom of yon dropping cloud, 

 While music wakes around, veil'd in a show'r 

 Of shadowy roses, on our plains descend." 



Thus, joyous and full of hope, he now resumes, in the garden, his 

 favourite and salutary pursuits ; now scattering the seed for summer's 

 ripening; now digging and planting, and removing finally for bloom 

 the various ornaments of the parterre; and while he is thus relishing, 

 with eager appetite, the pure and unfeigned pleasures that arise from 

 a floricultural taste, the only source of regret to him is, that other 

 minds and other spirits should not also partake of this enjoyment. 

 The banquet is spread for all, and nature inviles to the feast ! It is 

 therefore my object, if possible, to encourage the cultivation of this 

 taste, and to recommend floriculture, as a pursuit, worthy the atten- 

 tion of every rational being. I would recommend it — 



In the first place, as a rational and innocent amusement. There 

 are few men that have not some favourite pursuit or other— some 

 hobby-horse — with which to fill up leisure moments, and soften down 

 the cares and anxieties of business. Many and various are the 



