igth March, A. D. 1891. 



ESSAY 



BY 



OBADIAH B. HADWEN. 



Theme: — Hardy Flowering Shrubs and Plants. 



It is not to be expected that one who has devoted the major por- 

 tion of his life to the sturdy pursuits of the farm, can have found 

 time to become skilled in the knowledge or the cultivation of 

 flowers adequate to render an elaborate consideration of the 

 subject. But nature has signalized and cultivators have brought 

 out such an extensive variety and wealth of flowers, it has 

 seemed to me that they are not sufficiently appreciated and 

 enjoyed by the general public, and I venture to call attention to 

 the subject from what may be termed the intermediate standpoint, 

 in which every one having the slightest taste or love of flowers 

 may safely grow some of them in their respective homesteads or 

 premises by the way of embellishment or ornamentation. By 

 their cultivation we may find relief from daily cares ; we are 

 filled with novel sensations induced by each flowering plant. It 

 is by the thought and attention that is required that we draw 

 the charm from familiar flowers and these should be within our 

 knowledge, both of names and habits. It is useless for one to 

 expect the full rounded out luxuries of life without the love of 

 flowers, and their cultivation should be taught and obeyed as the 

 Ten Commandments. 



In the avocation and pursuits of Horticulture we learn to pro- 

 duce flowers that are gratifying to both simple and cultivated 

 tastes, and which go far to fill up the enjo^auent of rural 

 life. To plant and grow a few flowers about the homestead 



