94 Cyclamen. ' 



which now runs to waste could be profitably employed, half of the table- 

 expenses saved, and the comfort of the family doubled. 



We commend the vegetable-garden especially to our farming community, 

 by whom we fear it is less valued than by our village mechanics. The 

 farmers, accustomed to their broad acres and cultivators and corn-hoes, 

 think it a puttering business to attend to a garden : and, as a consequence, 

 potatoes, corn, hay, and oats abound for the sustenance of the barn-stock ; 

 but the minor wants of the family are unsupplied. So far as our observa- 

 tion goes, not half of the farmers have an asparagus-bed, and have little idea, 

 that, from a square rod of land, a daily dish of this most delicious vegeta- 

 ble may be furnished to an ordinary family from the ist of May to the ist 

 of July. The impression prevails with them, that some little spot must be 

 fenced in as a permanent garden. This is a mistake. The fence is an 

 eyesore in the landscape, an unnecessary expense, and greatly hinders the 

 economical cultivation of the garden. Abolish the fence, and horse-power 

 can be employed in the garden as well as in the field. The currant-bushes, 

 the asparagus, sage, and other perennials, need a permanent location : but 

 most of the vegetables thrive best on newly-inverted sod ; and, with no fence 

 to move, the main garden may be changed by the farmer at pleasure, and 

 beets, parsnips, and strawberries cultivated in long rows, by horse-power, 

 the same as in the field. Such a mode of culture takes away the petit look 

 of the fenced garden, and greatly diminishes the expense. 



Alexander Hyde. 



CYCLAMEN. 



Who would think of calling these beautiful flowers by such a name as 

 " Sow-bread " ? And yet such is the common name in Europe of one of 

 the most chaYming species (C. EuropcBum)^ which, in Middle Europe, is so 

 common, that pigs feed upon it. 



The family of the Cyclamen is not large ; but there is not an ugly or un- 

 graceful member in it. Nor, like many floral households, are there one or 

 two ornamental members, and hosts of insignificant poor relations always 

 (as the florist deems it) clad in shabby attire. 



