160 MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 



There are more berries now than churches ; 

 and no one knows what to believe. I have 

 seen gardens which were all experiment, 

 given over to every new thing, and which 

 produced little or nothing to the owners, ex- 

 cept the pleasure of expectation. People 

 grow pear-trees at great expense of time and 

 money, which never yield them more than 

 four pears to the tree. The fashions of 

 ladies' bonnets are nothing to the fashions 

 of nurserymen. He who attempts to follow 

 them has a business for life; but his life 

 may be short. If I enter upon this wide 

 field of horticultural experiment, I shall 

 leave peace behind ; and I may expect the 

 ground to open, and swallow me and all my 

 fortune. May Heaven keep me to the old 

 roots and herbs of my forefathers ! Perhaps 

 in the world of modern reforms this is not 

 possible ; but I intend now to cultivate only 

 the standard things, and learn to talk know- 

 ingly of the rest. Of course, one must keep 

 up a reputation. I have seen people greatly 

 enjoy themselves, and elevate themselves in 



