we reach the boundary of each returning period, 

 there is the indulgence of a brief stopping place, 

 where we may repose for a moment before we are 

 hurried away on the next stage of our rapid journey. 



It was the fanciful conception of Linneus, to mea- 

 sure the flight of time by a dial of flow^ers. The 

 graduated circle was constructed of chosen plants ; 

 clusters of blossoms stood for the figures on the 

 plate ; and the coming or departing hours of his 

 well improved days glided on, thus marked, as if 

 with the fragrance of their own good works. A 

 happy thought has perfected the invention of the 

 great naturalist, and blended utility with its beauty, 

 by gathering the richest fruits of the orchard and 

 the fairest flowers of the garden into annual exhibi- 

 tions. As the shadow of the declining year moves 

 over the rare collections, the index points to the in- 

 creasing skill which matures the products of cultiva- 

 tion, and to the generosity bestowing on the public 

 examples of excellence for the imitation of all. 



Could some learned interpreter faithfully trans- 

 late to the ear the language addressed to the eye 

 by each member of the autumnal convention of the 

 offspring of the earth, no other words could be 

 needed to illustrate success, itself the best reward 

 of exertions ; nor could other discourse enforce the 

 admonition of that eloquent, though voiceless con- 

 gregation, that continually increasing usefulness may 

 rightly be demanded in the ratio of enlarging capa- 

 city to benefit the community. The apple and pear 

 offer conclusive arguments : the plum and peach 

 contain convincing reasons : the grape and necta- 

 rine present unanswerable pleading : the vases of 



