234 THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I 



charge, several baskets, containing a confused mass of 

 blossoms, are deposited daily in porch or pantry, often 

 at a time when the mistress is busy, and they are either 

 overlooked or at the last moment crammed into the first 

 receptacle that comes to hand, from their very inoppor- 

 tuneness creating almost a feeling of dislike. 



When once lodged, they are frequently left to their 

 fate until they become fairly noisome, for is there any- 

 thing more offensive to aesthetic taste than blackened 

 and decaying flowers soaking in stagnant water? 



Was it not Auerbach, in his Poet and Merchant, who 

 said, "The lovelier a thing is in its perfection, the more 

 terrible it becomes through its corruption " ? and cer- 

 tainly this applies to flowers. 



Flowers, like all of the best and lasting pleasures, 

 must be taken a little seriously from the sowing of the 

 seed to the placing in the vase, that they may become 

 the incense of home, and the most satisfactory way of 

 choosing them for this use is to make a daily tour about 

 the garden, or, if a change is desired, through the fields 

 and highways, and, with the particular nook you wish 

 to fill in mind, gather them yourself. 



Even the woman with too wide a selection to gather 

 from personally can in this way indicate what she 

 wishes. 



