158 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



sury, by introducing a circus of ladies upon the 

 course. Now, it requires no stretch of the imagina- 

 tion to see that this is a public endorsement of the 

 eircus. Why, these circusses must be useful institu- 

 tions to merit imitation and draw imitators from so 

 high a source ! They must soon become indispensa- 

 ble institutions of every town, so important are they ! 

 Is it well for these Societies to bedim their hitherto 

 fair fame, even by a seeming recoo;nilion of so un- 

 worthy an aspirant for public favor and patronage, 

 for the little that is to be gained to its funds ? Is 

 not this paying too much for the whistle ? May not 

 these exhibitions be made sufficiently attractive, in 

 the pursuit of proper objects, to amply sustain them, 

 without a resort to anything which can be regarded 

 of doubtful propriety ? Societies have not only 

 lived, but flourished, before the introduction of this 

 practice. What Societies have done, they may still 

 do. So we do not find any good purpose answered 

 by an exhibition of lady equestrianism. 



5. It is not the legitimate ivork of these Societies, 

 and can receive premiums from their funds only in 

 molalion of the law creating them, and of the rules 

 regulating tlieir management. 



'i'he New York State Agricultural Society, in con- 

 formity to the act of incorporation, has for it objects 

 the " Improvement of Agriculture, Horticulture, 

 Mechanic and Household Arts." The County So- 

 cieties which have been organized under the law of 

 185.1, aud in conformity to it, have for their oV)jects 

 the " Advancement of Agriculture, Horticulture, 

 the Mechanic Arts, and Household Industry." And 

 the Board of Managers, in appropriating their funds, 

 are restricted to these objects. 



Now, to which of these departments belongs lady 

 equestrianism ? Very clearly it belongs to neither, 

 and therefore can share the attention aud funds of 

 these Societies only in violation of their design and 

 rules. This is a departure from the clearly defined 

 pursuits of these Societies — a breaking over the bar- 

 riers raised to secure the objects of their organiza- 

 tion. It is opening a door through which otber in- 

 terests, of a more questionable character, may come 

 in and claim their aid ; for if they may leave their 

 proper field of operations to promote one object for- 

 eiga to their designs, they may also to promote 

 others. And where can you fix a limit ? It is 

 readily seen, allowing this latitude, how easily the 

 funds might be prostituted to the encouragement of 

 cock-fighting, pugilism, horse-racing, and almost any- 

 thing else which might promise aid in replenishing 

 the treasury. Is it not better that these Societies 

 be confined to their appropriate work, which is so 

 vastly important, and not squander their energies 

 ftnd means upon foreign objects, however desirable 

 they may be regarded ? 



6. It will prove injurious to the proper objects and 

 general interests of the Societies. 



Much of the interest felt in seeino the proper obr 

 jects of the Society promoted will necessarily be 

 transferred to this, as it becomes the predominant 

 CJiaracteristic of the exhibition; and the time and 

 attention so necessary to give succes-s to other de- 

 partments, mu6t be divided with the Riding Match. 

 This is true, not only in regard to the arrangements 

 of the Board ot Managers, but to the Examining 

 Committees, and the exhibition itself In these re- 

 apects it is not only a neglect of the just claims, but 

 an iofringement of the rights of exhibitors, of which 



they very justly complain. Its demands, also, on the 

 attention of the community of spectators, draws 

 them from the consideration of what is substantial 

 and useful, and calculated to make them more suo 

 cessful farmers, fruit growers, mechanics and house- 

 wives, to what is mere amusement — thus defeating ih 

 a measure the grand object of these Societies. It 

 will prove injurious to the interests and usefulness of 

 these Societies, by repelling and driving fiom their 

 support many of their most efficient friends and pat- 

 rons. The admirers of consistency will neither sup- 

 port nor countenance the Society which leaves its 

 ample, honored and proper field of eflbrt, in violation 

 of its great design, for the encouragement of any 

 mere atnusement, however specious. The cautious 

 and prudent, the lovers and promoters of good order 

 and morality, will not feel at liberty to give encour- 

 agement to anything of so doubtful a tendency. 

 This alienation of so large a class of the fi lends and 

 patrons of these Societies, cannot but prove injurious 

 to their continued prosperity and success. A con- 

 sistent and faithful adherence to the great design of 

 these Societies, alone, can conmiand the respect and 

 secure the confidence of all classes of community. 

 Moscow, JY. Y. Maria. 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF FLOWERS. 



Every woman has, or thinks she has, a taste for 

 flowers ; that is, she loves them when they are in 

 bloom, admires their fragrance, their rich and gor- 

 geous colors, and their endless variety of form and 

 size. But, comparatively few know the real pleasure 

 of cultivating flowers, and why ? Because so many 

 depend on their husbands, brothers, or gardeners to 

 do for them what they ought to do for themselves, 

 viz : prepare the ground, sow the seed, and keep the 

 beds free from weeds. Now this would, for me, de- 

 stroy half the pleasure of flower gardening. Nothing 

 imparts more vigor to the body, and recreation to the 

 mind, than a few hours spent early in the morning in 

 the garden. I have heard many women oliject to 

 this, on the plea that they could not find time in the 

 morning. But let me say, few have had more cares 

 titan I have, with a family of nine children, all healthy 

 and vigorous; aud since my childhood I have ever 

 had the care of a flower garden, doing the -work with 

 my own hands from first to last, with the help, in 

 latter years, of my daughters — all busy, in doors and 

 out, from the rising of the sun to the going down 

 thereof And well have I been repaid; for I have 

 not only seen my flowers bud and blossom, but I 

 have seen my daughters grow up healthy and active, 

 their cheeks vieing in bloom with the roses they eul- 

 tivate, and their minds improved and invigorated by 

 appreciating all that is beautiful and lovely in nature, 

 teaching them to "look from nature up to nature's 

 God." Then let me urge all women, old and young, 

 to cultivate flov«ers. 



Perhaps some city miss will say, " Oh, some coun- 

 try woman wrote that, who has plenty of ground to 

 cultivate." But let me tell such, that all my life lime, 

 till within the last three years, has been spent within 

 the bounds of a city. Not a few have said to me, 

 " How is it your children look so healthy, aud uulikg 

 other children brought up in the city ? " I only need 

 to point to my garden and say, there is the secrete- 

 there is my fountain of health. C. H. CoLLlNa, 

 Clay, fVashitigton Co., Iowa, 



