f 



plum tree in bloom. Some of their gardens resem- 

 ble pictures in -which nature is skilfully modelled 

 in miniature ; but it is living, natural. In their 

 common practice, the plum tree, which is a univer- 

 sal favorite, and the recipient, consequently, of their 

 most constant and skilful attention, is so trained 

 and cultivated, that the blossoms are as large as 

 those of the dahlia! Facts like these go to demon- 

 strate the almost illimitable, though as yet hardly 

 dreamed of, capabilities of the art. When these 

 shall hare been more fully developed and appreci- 

 ated, and the influence of strictly "utilitarian" views 

 have succeeded in a measure to those of a more 

 liberal and enlightened character, — and when — 

 which is of still more importance, perhaps — we shall 

 hfwe learned to recognize the intimate connection 

 which is traceable between the relationship of mind 

 -and matter, or, in other words, the salutary influen- 

 ces wh-'ch nature, through the vegetable kingdom, 

 •exerts -over morals when rightly viewed, the exal- 

 tation -of the art to a condition that shall be regard- 

 ed as an approximation, at least, to its legitimate 

 a«d proper dignity, may be contemplated as by no 

 means either dubious or remote. 



It is in the garden that some of the most valua- 

 ble expeiimentsthat have contributed to shed light 

 upon the labors of the husbandman, during the last 

 half-century, have been made; and it is there also 

 the ethics has wisely resorted for living illustrations 

 of its most important and impressive truths. The 

 moral influence exerted over the mind and charac- 

 ter of the young, by a well-arranged and carefully 

 conducted garden, is certainly a consideration of no 

 insignificant moment. "Flowers are living teach- 

 ers ;" and when we become capable of comprehend 

 ing their language, and of garnering up the wis- 

 dom that emanatesin ceaseless, odorous outpour- 

 ings from their eloquent petals, — th? "mysterious 

 mechanism of their being," — we shall discover the 

 accuracy of the apothegm so curtly, and with so 

 much rhythmical beauty, advanced by the bard of 

 Avon, and find 



"Books in the runcing brookF, 



Sermons in stones and good in tveiylhiug." 



with more delicacy and propriety than Wilson 

 Flagg, of Beverly, a writer, of whom it may in 

 truth be said, "whatever he touches he adorns." 

 I commend his essays to the notice of the public ; 

 confidently believing the more extensively they are 

 read and considered, the more thoroughly will the 

 public taste be improved and corrected. 



I am by no means disposed to charge all admir- 

 ers of fast horses with being blacklegs and gam- 

 blers, but I do think that the natural consequence 

 of trials of speed, is the encouragement of these 

 vices; and wherever these prevail, inUmptrance 

 will be intermingled ; and when "wine is in, wit will 

 be out," as all experience testifies. • 



March 20, 1857. 



For the Sew England Farmer. 



FAST EOESES. 



r scarcely take up a paper that has not some al- 

 lusion to this topic ; and what is most singular, I 

 tind no one that boldly encourages their introduc- 

 tion. The truth is, fast horses, like fast young 

 men, are not worth rearing, their exploits dazzle 

 ■or the moment, and then vanish away. I speak of 

 the term fast, in the technical sense in which it is 

 used, and not in that more substantial sense, indic- 

 ative of superior power and ability. No one will 

 despise an animal because it can accomplish extra- 

 ordinary feats, but an animal should be valued for 

 this ability alone. Among other writers, there is 

 DO one that I have met who has treated this topic 



Fur the New England Farmer. 



"WHO SHALL DECIDE, WHEN 

 DOCTORS DISAGREE." 



In the account given of the discussions at the 

 agricultural meetings on Tuesday evenings, called 

 Legislative Farmers' meetings, at the first of which 

 His Excellency the Governor kindly presided, he 

 is said to have spoken in terms of praise of the ag- 

 ricultural literature of the commonwealth. At the 

 expression of such an opinion, by a gentleman of his 

 intelligence and shrewdness, we were not surprised, 

 as it accorded well with our own notions ; for we say 

 without hesitation, that the agricultural literature 

 of this commonwealth will compare well with ihat 

 of any other State of the Union, so far as our op- 

 portunity for observation has extended. But, im- 

 agine our surpiise, when at the voluntary meeting of 

 farmers on Thursday last, a young sprout from Mid- 

 dlesex presumed to say that we have no agricultural 

 literature at all, that the papers which pass under this 

 denomination were extremely ordinary, and as to 

 the State annual volume, it was, at best, but a com- 

 pound of what had been said, and returned by the 

 several county societies. Who this sprout was, we 

 are glad not to know, and whether his beard has or 

 has not yet grown, our sight did not enable us to 

 determine ; but we will say to him there were thoFe 

 within the sound of his voice, when speaking, who 

 have forgotten more than he ever knew, or ever 

 will know, unless he displays more wisdom in the 

 acquisition, than he did in his speech on this occa- 

 sion. He should remember the adage, "young folks 

 think old folks fools," &c. I, Sir, think the JS'cw 

 Eiigland Fanner a sound, sensible paper. I have 

 received it every week since it was first published by 

 Thomas G. Fessenden, a man who jjossessed as keen 

 perception and wit, as ever the young gentleman 

 himself supposed to be his own portion, — and this is 

 enough for any moderate sized man, — and have de- 

 rived from it as much useful instruction as from any 

 other paper I have ever read. As to the Cultivator, I 

 consider the views of its editor the best jiossible 

 authority in all matters relating to stock of every 

 class. As to the Ploughman, 1 know it is a favor- 

 ite paper with many a sensible farmer, and although 

 I do not always entirely harmonize with the senior 

 editor's notions, I have always found the junior 

 editor's deportment to be that of an intelligent 

 gentleman. I have found many things in his pa- 

 per worthy of commendation. On the whole, sir, 

 I think it best for boys, as well as others, "to think 

 twice before they speak once." 



Ftb. Ith, 1837. One of the Old School. 



