1891.] ESSAYS. 143 



tends to educate and jrladden the eye, to refine our better 

 natures, and we ijrow to appreciate as our knowledge increases, 

 for they are equally gratifying to the young and old. They 

 soften the arduous day of toil in all pursuits of life, and crown 

 those who grow them plentiful and well ; broadening and im- 

 proving the mind and educating the eye to appreciate the more 

 beautiful in nature in its most comprehensive and delicate sense. 

 Flowers embellish, decorate and charm our homes and immedi- 

 ate surroundings in due proportion to the care and skill de- 

 voted to their cultivation. Of late years we have the world to 

 select from, giving variety adapted to all situations, either 

 climate or soil ; and with the hybrids annually produced by 

 skilled cultivators, our interests are ])eing constantly renewed 

 with new kinds and coloring to the already vast collection found 

 worthy of cultivation. 



In attempting to speak of the hardy flowering shrubs and 

 plants particularly adapted to Central Massachusetts with an 

 area subject to the climatic conditions of an altitude varying 

 from one hundred to more than one thousand feet above tide 

 water, we find very many that are native and also of foreign 

 introduction worth}' of cultivation. It will be practicable at 

 this time to dwell upon only a portion of them even very briefly. 

 Perhaps in no period since the settlement of the country has 

 the growing of ornamental shrubs and plants in the public 

 parks of cities, on grounds adjacent to school-houses, at railway 

 stations, on the farms and gardens, and even in windows, ever 

 received so much intelligent care and cultivation as at present, 

 although our ancestors were not entire strangers to some good 

 flowering shrubs and plants, and even then flowers were not 

 "born to blush unseen;" they were cultivated by hands as 

 assiduous and delicate as those of the present age who are 

 instructed and first inspired by the worthy example of their 

 ancestors. 



The Lilac, of late called Syi'inga, was well known and culti- 

 vated years ago ; the common lilac was then indispensable in 

 every garden. We have fifty sorts now that add very much 

 to the interest in this hardy and much esteemed class of plants — 



