Remarks on Rural Scenery, the Cottage Garden, &/-c. 105 



habitations strolling from their " cot," in quest of wild flowers to dec- 

 orate their little parterre, with rosy cheeks, in infantile ecstasy. Such 

 rustic decorations always enliven native scenery, and impart to the 

 traveller a theme of moral rectitude. 



The additional value to property has another bearing on this spe- 

 cies of horticulture ; this accrues from the comforts arising from a 

 well-stocked fruit garden, from which the cottager receives the fruit 

 from the trees, as the season ripens the different varieties in their 

 successive progressions. To him the flavor of the fruit is generally 

 agreeable, and being of his own produce, adds to its value. The 

 generous vine too spreads its rustic arbor, and at once forms a cool 

 retreat, while it presents its pendulous clusters of luscious fruit, as an 

 inviting and refreshing repast to its humble pruner. The well regu- 

 lated vegetable garden also adds to his comforts such esculent food as 

 is not only agreeable to the taste, but in every way conducive to 

 health ; and the whole seems to form a pleasing congruity of the 

 contented cottage. And surely, gentle reader, such comforts as these 

 are of too binding a nature to cause that changeable disposition of 

 migrating from one dwelling to another, too often seen and experi- 

 enced in many places, to the disadvantage of the landlord and tenant. 

 In the above shuation every tree and plant appears to the cottager 

 a welcome dweller, and is cherished as such, and a connected com- 

 fort arising therefrom endears him to home, whilst the good condition 

 of the property, proves to be a pleasing and satisfactory compendium 

 to the estate of the most afiluent landholder. 



When the intelligent traveller passes through a country where the 

 well-cultivated cottage garden presents itself in general, he at once 

 discovers an enterprising and intelligent community. The valleys 

 to him appear more fertile, the hills more cheerful, the streams mean- 

 der among the rustic cots in perfect harmony with the scene, and at 

 some future day he discloses to his friends the happy condition of the 

 contented cottager. Junius. 



Neiv York, Feb. 4th, 1835. 



We shall be highly pleased to receive a continuation of such remaiks on rural 

 improvement. We intend to devote considerable attention to that part of our 

 Magazine, which relates to rural affairs : — Impressed with the belief that it is a spe- 

 cies of improvement nearly allied to horticulture, and in a degree, the first step 

 to its more general adoption. The love of flowers and plants must precede a taste 

 for higher and more important objects ; and in the proportion that this love is in- 

 stilled into the mind of the young farmer or cottager, an interest is excited to 

 cultivate and mature the earth's more choice and rich productions. Men who 

 have never made their home the "rustic cot," or in their youthful days wandered 

 through the fields and pastures in quest of the first vernal snowdrop, or the fra- 

 grant blossoms of the hawthorn, seldom imbibe a real taste for rural scenery, or 

 feel a desire to improve the appearance of a country as formed by nature. But 

 the lands of the farmer, with taste and care, may be made to add picturesque beauty 

 to the scenery of the country, and to produce fruits and vegetables more conducive 

 to his comfort, if his attention can be turned to rural and domestic improvement. 

 It is a subject of deep interest, and one to which we wish to call the attention of 

 our readers and correspondents. — Conds. 



VOL. I. NO. III. P 



