106 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



had a vision of the mirivalled exhibitions made at its annual 

 shows, and especially at the late national display in Boston 

 by the American Pomological Society, rivalling in variety, 

 extent and excellence, it is believed, any which has been 

 made by other nations, — where States which had not culti- 

 vated a fr nit-tree sixteen years ago, received the hig-hest 

 prize for apples 1 



One of the most gratifying evidences of progress and re- 

 finement, is the general love and appreciation of fruits and 

 flowers. These have been too often considered as the mere 

 superfluities of life, but the more we are brought into com- 

 munion with them, the more shall Ave realize those pure and 

 refined sensations which inspire the soul with love and devo- 

 tion to Him who clothes the fields with a radiance, to which 

 Solomon in all his glory could only aspire. 



The cultivation of the garden, the ornamental planting of 

 our grounds, and the general use of flowers afiVjrd striking 

 proof of the high state of civilization which marks the prog- 

 ress of the present age. Within our own recollection the 

 use of flowers at funerals was deemed improper, nor was 

 their appearance in the sanctuary greeted with pleasure. They 

 were thought to be inconsistent with the proprieties of divine 

 worship, as diverting the mind, and detracting from the 

 solemnities of the occasion. God was not seen in flowers, in 

 the rose, or the lily of the valley. From the lovely forms 

 and various hues of flowers, the glories and joys of the gar- 

 den, the royal psalmist has derived some of the highest types 

 of inspiration, the artist some of his finest conceptions of 

 grace and beauty. We cannot therefore too highly or grate- 

 fully appreciate that divine wisdom and benevolence which 

 has surrounded us with these manifestations of His perfection 

 and glory, these beautiful creations, — 



" Mingled and tnade hy love, to one great end." 



How delightful is the pleasure of communing with those 

 lovely objects nourished and cherished by your own care, and 

 which you almost imagine to be susceptible to your sympathy 

 and love ! "The garden," said Lord .Bacon, "is the purest 

 of humiui pleasures ; it is the greatest refreshment to the 



