820 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



acquaintance with the old flowers, (we will not call them old 

 fashioned flowers,) that our grandmothers used to cultivate ; 

 most of them were truly beautiful, notwithstanding our long 

 familiarity with them. The lilacs, hollyhocks, lupins, daffodils, 

 poppies, four-o'clocks, marigolds, and morning glorys that once 

 adorned the garden-walks of the old mansions, are capable of 

 great improvement. We are indebted to the bouquet from 

 Middleton for some of these suggestions that seem to cluster 

 round its central branch of hollyhocks. The hollyhock is 

 susceptible of great variety ; it belongs to a family of plants 

 altogether too much neglected ; when the plants are not grown 

 thickly they are of good form, and although the flowers cannot 

 well be plucked upon stems, they still make a fine show when 

 placed in shallow dishes of water. A bunch of lilacs revives 

 the memories of youth, and we never suffer " 'lection week " 

 to pass without plucking at least one thyrsus, and enjoying its 

 fragrance. How refreshing are the reflections which we derive 

 from youth and spring time, when the " maple bursts into a 

 flush of scarlet flowers," and the columbines and anemones 

 peep from the springing grass or crest the mossy rocks. 



" It is like a beguiling music, 

 ^nd we wonder not that we loved, as now, 

 To hunt for violets in the April time." 



Have we not in flowers that bloom in every clime and toss 

 their fragrance into every dwelling place of humanity, an evi- 

 dence of their great Author's love of beauty, and thereby 

 authority for the embellishments of life. And we should ever 

 learn to add grace to mere utility, by throwing over all our 

 inventions the lighter robe of beauty, as expressed in form and 

 color. 



Flowers never seem out of place ; they attend the checkered 

 path of life, from the cradle to the grave, and at all times 

 reflect the sympathies of man. They are present at our fes- 

 tivities, welcome at our solemnities, and inspire hope and com- 

 fort in the hours of sorrow and distress. We do well to learn 



" How with tree and flower, 

 In converse sweet to pass the hour 

 As with an early friend." 



