23 



GARDENING. 

 (Paper read before Sooke W. I. by Miss Murray.) 



A beautiful garden, tastefully laid out, and well kept is a certain evi- 

 dence of taste, refinement, and culture. It makes a lowly cottage attractive, 

 and lends a charm to the stateliest palace. I can conceive of nothing more 

 dreary than to live in the country, and have no garden. To have a garden 

 is to have many friends continually near. 



With what intense delight one watches the first tiny leaves of the seeds 

 one has planted. The cultivation of the soil possesses a wonderful fascina- 

 tion. Its very odor after a refreshing shower is inspiring, and as you 

 gather your flowers, you will also gather improvement in many ways. God 

 made them all, and what he designs should ne'er be deemed unworthy of 

 our study and our love. 



Leigh Hunt says, "Flowers sweeten the air, rejoice the eye, link you with 

 nature and innocence, and are something to love." If they cannot love you 

 in return, they cannot hate you, cannot utter hateful words, even if neglect- 

 ed, for though they are all beauty, they possess no vanity, and living as they 

 do, to do you good, and afford you pleasure, how can you neglect them! 

 Plant with care and skill, water when needful, feed plenty of nourishment, 

 keep clear from weeds, tie, stake, prune, and cultivate daily, and you will 

 never regret the small investment required to commence and continue a 

 garden, but will become more and more enamoured with the occupation, and 

 will yearly increase your stock. 



CUTTING AND PRESERVING FLOWERS. 



Flowers should never be cut during the intense heat of the day, but 

 either while wet with dew in the early morning, or after sunset when the 

 falling dew has refreshed them. Do not break them off harshly, but cut 

 them with a knife or scissors. A knife is best as it does not lacerate the 

 minute tubes which draw up the water that nourishes the flowers. If these 

 tubes or pores are closed up the flower soon withers. To keep flowers fresh, 

 the ends of the stalks should be cut off a little every time you change the 

 water and a pinch of saltpetre and salt tends to prevent their decay. Soap 

 suds, which has been widely recommended, spoils the flowers very quickly. 

 Flowers put in a vase filled with pieces of charcoal and water will keep 

 fresh a long time if the water is changed every day. Rain water is best for 

 watering plants or for cut flowers. Do not be chary of picking your flowers, 

 the more you gather the more you will have. 



Our forefathers, in fleeing from the persecutions and ceremonies of an 

 established church, cast from them all outward adornments, but we o/ 

 these later days desire to see our churches adorned with the "Green things 

 of the earth," and the practice of adorning churches with flowers is becom- 

 ing almost universal. If there is any kind of adornment which more than 

 another seems fitted to God's House it is that thoughtful use of the "Green 

 things of the earth." 



Bring flowers to the shrine where we kneel in prayer, 



They are nature's offering their place is there! 



They speak of hope to the fainting heart, 



With a voice of comfort, they come and part, 



They sleep in dust through the wintry hours, 



They break forth in glory, bring flowers, bright flowers. 



They speak to us of love and joy; of hope and peace; of humility and 

 confidence, and also of bitter sorrow and grief for they are associated with 



