1896.] ESSAYS. 73 



their flowers replaced the pojipies. A record of the mind)er of 

 poppies ])ic]<;ed (hniii<i- tlie season was upwards of two thousand. 

 Thouiili this flower is evanescent, the variety and beauty of coloring 

 make them attractive bouquets for the house. Along the boundaries 

 of my friend's lot are rose-bushes and other shrubs, making the number 

 of different plants in his yard almost one hundred and fifty. One 

 hedge is very beautiful during the fall, for it is a mass of the white 

 eupatorium and the wild purple aster. To obtain these no money was 

 essential, but a pleasant walk in the country secured the roots. 



It is a pleasure to find in this garden the favorite flowers of years 

 gone by, such as balsam, marigold, hollyhock, larkspur, sweetwilliam, 

 violet, pansies, petunias, portulacca, sunflower, cockscomb, zinnias, 

 sweet peas, morning glory and asters. 



When we take the estimates of tlie papers of the hun(b-eds, nay 

 thousands, in every city w^ho spend many hours watching athletic 

 games, we cannot accept want of time as a reason for not gardening, 

 or walking in the coimtry to enjoy nature's panorama. 



A horticultural society can teach that one of the highest forms of 

 physical exercise is gardening. The argument is advanced that ath- 

 letic games are highly conducive to health. Grant that they are, it 

 cannot be denied that there is often attendant upon them an ungener- 

 ous rivalry, a tendency to betting, an unhealthy excitement. The 

 handling of the shovel, the rake, the hoe, gives exercise from which 

 there can result no evils, but rather a positive gain to both mind and 

 body. An athletic game has no material results to show for the 

 benefit of others ; but he " who makes two blades of grass where one 

 grew before," can view with satisfaction the results of liis exercise, 

 and justly feel he has contributed to others' good. Moreover, garden- 

 ing gives enjoyment tliat need not be dropped as age comes on, for 

 as long as strength endures, it is a resource that never fails to give 

 pleasure. 



The physical ])enefit of gardening has been dwelt upon, but even 

 higher than that is the mental refreshment it gives. The man harassed 

 by business, the woman exhausted by the wearying demands made 

 upon her, will find the thoughts turned from monotonous channels to 

 brighter ones, and will be healed and made glad by the freshness- of 

 nature. 



The experience of a business man, who for more than fifty years 

 gave his leisure to a garden, gave it, too, in early manhood, when 

 time meant money, for he was ])uilding up a business, proves that the 

 writer is not theorizing, but describing an actual case. When the 



