152 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The preamble and resolution were signed by the President and 

 Secretary of the Society, to be presented to the Legislature of the 

 State as a petition. 



Adjourned to Saturday, March 20. 



MEETING FOR DISCUSSION. 

 Homestead Landscapes. 



]{y George Austik Bowe>-, M.D., Woodstock, Conn. 



There is no word in the English language of deeper significance 

 than that good old Saxon one '' home." It in some way expresses 

 more of human heart and feeling, and of the conditions and senti- 

 ments that characterize a true manhood and womanhood, than any 

 other word in our extensive vocabulary. Its utterance at once 

 brings to mind scenes of domestic happiness. Home is the one 

 centre around which revolve all the feelings and aspirations that 

 stimulate our daily exertions ; and it is the only place that affords 

 the tranquillizing influences so necessary for refreshment after the 

 rude contacts and the busy turmoil of our outside life. Love and 

 joy — happiness and peace — are expressed in its very name. The 

 thoughts of wanderers on sea and land revert to it with deep and 

 persistent emotion ; and the heart of man everywhere derives from 

 it a contentment that can never be supplied from any other source 

 — for it is the only place in all this world where hearts are sure of 

 each other. 



The influences of home create and develop not only the char- 

 acter of individual men, but of mighty nations. Kefined sentiments, 

 lofty aspirations, and purity of moral character are developed far 

 more by the unseen influences of home teachings, and home sur- 

 roundings, than by all other causes combined. The home life of 

 any nation is the truest index of that nation's civilization. Looked 

 at the world over, the comparison of homes with character justifies 

 this broad conclusion. Stating it in one aspect, I suppose we 

 should say — "As a man is, so lie makes the home." But does not 

 that home, once made, tend to keep him true to the impulses that 

 inspired him in estal)lisliing it? And does it not exert a yet more 

 wonderful infiuence upon his children, whose characters are still 

 in the plastic stage of formation? Therefore the expending of 

 time, thought, and study upon the problem of improving the 



