256 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Saints' gtprlmciit. 



LADIES SHOULD DO THEIR OWN GARDENING. 



^?KSSR?, Editors: — I holil that all amateur florists 

 should be their own gardeners, unless they are able 

 to keep a professional man constantly in their em- 

 ploy; for what is the use of having help to do that 

 which we can do ourselves. I cannot send any one 

 into my yard to work in the spring, unless I am with 

 him to keep his spade or fork out of the bulbs or 

 perennials that have not appeared above ground; 

 and while I am watching him, I might do the work 

 myself. "What!" says one, "do you spade?" I 

 certainly do, end, moreover, 1 think I can do the 

 work to suit myself quite as well as Pat or Jimmy, 

 and am not ashamed to be caught in the act by any 

 one. I have watched some men when they were 

 spading, who were so afraid of their strength, that, 

 with one foot on the spade and the other on the 

 ground, they would bob about something as a frog 

 Blight be expected to do under like circumstances. 



Here something must be said relative to the outfit 

 fiw gardening. Mrs. Loudox says " a lady should 

 provide herself with clogs, or a tramp," which is de- 

 s&ribed as a plate of iron, fastened under the right 

 foot by means of a strap. All the clogs I find 

 necessary, is a pair of stout, thick soled laced boots, 

 (and if the ground h wet a pair of rubbers over 

 ftem,) a pair of thick gloves, and the other dress ac- 

 cording to the weather. A few tools will be wanted, 

 such as a trowel, a small garden rake, a pair of gar- 

 den shears, different kinds of hoes, and a hand syringe, 

 for the insects. 



Trusting others to work among your flowers, re- 

 minds me of au incident related to me by an amateur 

 friend a few years since. She was unwell, and thoug-ht 

 it not prudent to go out, and it became necessary that 

 the gladiolus bulbs should be planted; so she de- 

 scribed the pUce where they must be planted to her 

 husband, and he performed the work as well as she 

 could have done it herself, and was highly gratified 

 with his success. Shortly after, there was another 

 kind that had sprouted in the house, which required 

 planting out. She told him to plant them in any 

 spot where there was nothing growing. It so hap- 

 pened that the first bulbs planted had not shown 

 fhemsslves, and, forgetting his first efforts, he planted 

 the others above them ! The mistake was not dis- 

 covered in time to remove them, and they presented 

 a beautiful illustration of the "mixed system" of 

 growing flowers. Amateur. 



A SESIDENCE IN THE COUNrEY OR CITY. 



"In a residence in the conntr^' or city most conducive to high 

 mental culture, beauty of person, health, happiness and use- 

 fulness ? " 



In the economy of the human system, certain con- 

 ditions are requisite to the proper exercise and de- 

 development of each and every power of the body 

 or the mind. A chief condition, is health. Racked 

 with disease and emaciated in frame, humanity loses 

 much of its beauty of person, and, instead of being 

 useful, man becomes a burden to himself and to those 

 around him. His happiness is gone, and the vigor 

 of his mind decays, or, at loast, his languid frame 

 will not sustain him in the acquisition of high men- 



tal culture. If these assumptions be admitted, the. 

 question resolves itself into the habitation most con- 

 ducive to health. Our health depends upon a va- 

 riety of circumstances, among which are pure air, 

 proper exercise, proper food, cleanliness of {lersoq, 

 and a happy, pleasant frame of mind — all of whioh. 

 are more easily and naturally attainable in a country , 

 than in a city life : air, unmixed with the effluvia^ 

 of a dense population — exercise, in which every mus- 

 cle is brought into requisition — food, fresh and un- 

 tainted, from the virgin earth — the rippling brook 

 inviting to cleanliness, and the natural scenery woo- 

 ing us to cheerfulness and happiness. In our country 

 home, the ever- varying scene is suggestive of thought 

 — monotony is forever excluded. " The rolling year "* 

 brings with it one long, unbroken spell of enchant- 

 ment The icy crystals, wrought into mosaics in the 

 leafless tree, reflecting in the sun a thousand ray&— 

 the joyous notes of spring — the waving grain — tb« 

 ripening fruits — the "sear and yellow leaf" — each 

 and all impart a charm, healthful and invigorating, to, 

 our moral, intellectual and physical nature. The po^ 

 etry of nature is written on every flower, and every 

 grove is vocal with its melody. The crystal spring, 

 the murmuring insect, the chirping bird, and the air 

 fragrant with the odor of flowers, all contribute to 

 make a country residence the home of health, happi- 

 ness, contentment and peace. S. A- W. 

 Meadville, Pa. 



THE FARM HOUSE, 



Who does not love the farm house ? I A) not 

 mean its shadow, but the real farm house, with long 

 dairy, filled with delicious butter and cheese ; its 

 large kitchen, where, over the " great cook-stove." 

 the rosy-cheeked lasses are at work, and passing to 

 and from this to the great dining-table, upon which 

 is spread all that heart could wish, selected from the 

 produce of the farm; and beyond this, the spaciotia 

 " sitting-room," (leaving out the dainty parlor,) where 

 the family so often assemble, and the children listen 

 to words of instruction from the lips of their re- 

 vered parents. Plere is the cradle of Liberty and 

 Independence. Here are hearts that breathe free 

 air, and will make brave patriots in the struggle for 

 their entire Freedom. It is true, they must be edu- 

 cated; but who is better prepared to do it than the 

 farmer? Who more independent? All that he de- 

 sires, he can obtain directly, or indirectly, from his farm. 



Ye daughter.^, nursed within the walls of the farm 

 house, envy not the city belle. God has blessed yon 

 with privileges which she can never enjoy. Look 

 well to your duties; make the farm house a pleasant 

 home for all those connected with it. A. E. F. 



Girard, Pa. 



AN EXCELLENT WAY TO PEEPARE GREEN CORN 

 FOE WINTER USE. 



When the corn is sufficiently advanced for cooking 

 boil on the col', in the fame manner as it is generally 

 prepared for table use. When it is done, cut it from 

 the cob carefully, spread it on a cloth, and put it m 

 the sun to dry. When it is wanted for use. wash it, 

 and put it in sufTicient waer, slightly salted, to boil 

 for an hour. Then add a little new milk and but- 

 ter, and it is ready for the table. It can also be 

 cooked with beans. 0. L. Baeb. 



Mllford, Ind. 



