GARDENING. 7 



that as we can possibly find to suit their natural habit ; by 

 doing this we make them healthy, and perform the function 

 so desirable in them to flower well. This is the business of 

 the amateur to see to, and may be considered their food and 

 rest, without which no science in Gardening can prosper. 



Gardening, as amusement, is certainly one of the most 

 pleasing recreations in existence, possessing novelty, and en- 

 thusiasm, and is food to the human mind which softens the 

 passions, meliorates the understanding, and adds days of 

 happiness to that period of our existence which our Maker 

 has blessed us with. The mind is filled with a pleasing 

 excitement, even in the attainment of a new plant, thus 

 giving to science an opportunity of still increasing those 

 pleasures so desirable. The diffusion of a useful knowledge 

 in Gardening is also communicative from one person to 

 another, making our condition as natural beings, more 

 commanding, and developing our ideas as they expand, and 

 more influential in the path of life, even to the most humble 

 part of vegetable physiology. There has been, in most 

 works published, a mystery on the subject of Gardening 

 and the propagation of plants ; for why, may it be asked, 

 has this dogmatical system predominated so long? This 

 cannot be answered unless the whole system has been con- 

 fined too much to certain classes of men who, instead of 

 endeavoring to create a taste for flowers, have been more 

 studious to check floriculture, unmindful, at the same time, 

 that the more converts gained to the system of Gardening 

 the more plants would be sold by them. The knowledge 

 of cultivating is now becoming better known ; indeed, the 

 whole art is in a state of revolution ; we cannot turn to any 

 place but we see some of the most beautiful gems of Flora 



