FLOWER-GARDENING. 



CHAPTER L 



INTRODUCTION. 



" AWAKE ! the morning shines, and the fresh field 

 Calls you : ye lose the prime, to mark how spring 

 The tended plants, how blows the Citron grove ; 

 "What drops the Myrrh, and what the balmy Keed ; 

 How Nature paints her colors; how the bee 

 Sits on the bloom, extracting liquid sweets." 



How delightful is this fragrance ! It is distributed in 

 exquisite proportion ; neither so strong as to oppress the 

 organs, nor so faint as to elude them. We are soon cloyed at 

 a sumptuous banquet ; but this pleasure never loses its poig- 

 nancy, nor palls the appetite. This balmy entertainment not 

 only regales the sense, but cheers the very soul ; and, instead 

 of clogging, elates its powers. 



" The soft green grass is growing 



O'er meadow and o'er dale ; 

 The silv'ry founts are flowing 



Upon the verdant vale ; 

 The pale Snow-drop is springing 



To greet the glowing sun ; 

 The Primrose sweet is flinging 



Perfume the fields along; 

 The trees are in their blossom, 



The birds are in their song j 

 As Spring upon the bosom 



Of Nature's borne along. 

 1* 



