108 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



assembly can remember the time Avhen there were but few 

 greenhouses in New England, and these were almost entirely 

 confined to our retired and wealthy citizens. Now, these plant- 

 structures are to be seen in almost all our populous towns and 

 villages, and so much has the taste and demand for plants and 

 flowers increased, that many are devoted to special culture of 

 the rose, the violet, or some other plant. Nor is this taste 

 confined to the rich or middling class. Now, almost every 

 dwelling has its grape-vine or fruit-tree, its woodbine, scarlet- 

 runner or morning glory. Even window-gardening has be- 

 come a Svcience, and few are so poor whose home may not be 

 lit up with the cheering influence of a plant or flower, whose 

 windows may not become more hallowed by the sweet influ- 

 ences of nature's bloom, than by the gaudy pageant-pane 

 which perpetuates the name of a saint, — perhaps a sinner too. 

 And I confess my heart has often been touched with tender- 

 ness and sympathy when I have seen the poor laborer, after a 

 hard day's work, carrying under his arm a rose or geranium 

 to cheer and solace the wife and weans at home. These 

 are the outer manifestations of the soul for that fairer and 

 better clime where flowers shall never fade, the secret yearn- 

 ings for that paradise beyond the skies which shall never be 

 lost again. 



I have spoken freely of the chastening influence of rural 

 pursuits ; but before I close, allaw me to allude again to 

 flowers ; to those symbols of all that is pure, lovely and beauti- 

 ful, — those golden stars, that like the dew-drops of morning, 

 sparkle on the bosom of mother earth. Flowers are the very 

 embodiment of beauty ; flowers are like angel spirits minister- 

 ing to the finest sensibilities of our nature, often inspiring us 

 with thoughts, which, like the unexpressed prayer, lie too 

 deep for utterance. God speaks by flowers and plants and 

 trees, as well as by the lips of his prophets and priests. So 

 felt Bacon, who desired always to have flowers before him 

 when exploring the mysteries of that divine philosophy 

 which has made his name immortal. Flowers have a language, 

 and like the starry firmament above, proclaim His handiwork 

 and glory. God has imprinted a language on every leaf that 

 flutters in the breeze, on every flower that unfolds its virgin 

 bosom to the sun, teaching us the great lesson of his wisdom, 



