244 GARDENING OVER A WINTER FIRE. 



den itself, corrects crude theories, and winnows 

 out the chaff. But when it comes to skill, the 

 "prentice hand" must acquire it mainly by 

 practice. All the medical reading in the world 

 would not make a good physician, though most 

 essential in preparation ; he must not only read 

 about disease, but see it, treat it, and have ex- 

 perience in regard to it. But experience gives 

 skill doubly fast, when careful reading and good 

 abstract knowledge has- prepared the way ; and 

 this preparation can best be made over the 

 winter fire. 



Then again, the spring catalogues are now 

 arriving, and they are enough to give one a per- 

 fect fever over gardening. Lying before me is 

 one that is a marvel of good taste and beauty, 

 sent out by Mr. James Vick, if Rochester. In 

 it advertising becomes a fine art. So sugges- 

 tive and accurate are the engraving of vegetables, 

 and especially the flowers, that we recognize 



