804 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



world of humanity — and it hears him gladly. He says : " If 

 there were no indications of the goodness and bounty of God 

 except in flowers, that evidence would be all sufficient — no 

 better evidence of God's high attributes would be needed. God 

 has adopted flowers as symbols to reveal his own nature. A 

 man who lives among flowers is almost in an unconscious state 

 of regeneration." 



Your committee invite especial attention to a most serious 

 consideration of the unconsciously regenerating and ennobling 

 influences which the love of flowers and nature exert in forming 

 human character — " first the tender blade, and then the ear, 

 and after that the full corn in the ear." To fresh, unbiased 

 childhood, all the demonstrations of nature, or God in His 

 works, appear peculiarly sublime, beautiful and instructive. 

 The lightning's flash, the thunder's roar, the starry heavens, 

 the flowery mead and the smiling snow-drop, windflower and 

 crocus bursting gladly out from the frost-stricken earth, to 

 greet the first genial sunshine of returning spring — all speak 

 most eloquently of an Omnipotence, not only of power but of 

 love. It comes as unostentatiously and unconsciously home to 

 the souls of children, as the gentle, noiseless dew, the small 

 still voice of ceaseless blessing descends from the smiling 

 heavens. 



If, between the All-Father and the unblemished infancy of 

 our race, there was originally the most perfect oneness, confi- 

 dence and sympathy, how much more may it now exist between 

 Him and the infantile purity of every human being ? And if, 

 " As the twig is bent, the tree's inclined ; " or in other words, 

 if " The child be father of the man" — how infinitely important 

 are bright flowery homes for modulating childhood ! Home ! 

 Home as it should be is but another name for heaven and hap- 

 piness ! Earth has no bright, no sunny spot aside the homo 

 where the heart and all its aspirations meet. It is the nursery 

 of religion, the most pure and undcfiled ; and the patriotism 

 which most freely bleeds for " My own, my native land," there 

 first germinates in youthful breasts. To guard and protect our 

 country then against foes without, and the reckless infidelity 

 within, which reveres not God, nor regards the rights of man — 

 fill it not only with abundant supplies for animal wants, but 

 with fragrant flowers and flower-loving children, and they will 



