THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



The desire to maKe one's home attractive and pleasant is pro- 

 minent in the mind of every right-thinking person, not merely 

 for his own enjoyment, but more for the sake of his children. 

 Home should be the most attractive place our children can find, 

 and all the charms that we can throw around it will be as so many 

 links to bind them to the spot that is to them both a sanctuary and 

 a shelter. Besides this, the surroundings of home have a formative 

 power upon the character^ of those who dwell there, and a 

 stranger may tell much of the mind and heart of the inmate* 

 by looking at the door-yard. 



To encourage and help those who are striving to twine some 

 flowers in the strands of daily toU, who are wishing to set those 

 plants which, though not ministering food to the eater, shall 

 cheer with their winsome beauty the dwellers at home, smile out 

 a welcome to the entering guest, or greet with a cheery pleasant- 

 ness the passer-by ; to help such have these pages, devoted to the 

 Flower Garden, been penned. 



Our Canadian climate may not be the most favorable for 

 lavish display of floral beauty, yet there are many beautiful 

 things that will endure our climate, and, if it be necessary to 

 bestow more thought and care upon the culture and protection 

 of the trees, shrubs, and plants which we desire to have about 

 our dwellings than is requisite in more sunny climes, this very 

 care only heightens our enjoyment, and deepens our love for the 

 things we thus cherish. Take courage, then; the Canadian's 

 motto is "to make a path where he cannot find one," and if the 

 floral treasures of the tropics do not grow naturally in our northern 

 land, we will set about our homes those things which harmonize 

 better with the natural features of our country, and compel 



