40 The Cultivation of Flowers. 



Bcription called " Clayed Sugar," which is a sort partially purified by be- 

 ing set to granulate in porous earthcrn pans, kept moistened, from which 

 the moisture passing and running through the grains of sugar, carries 

 with it much of the impurity and color. 



THE CULTIVATION OF FLOWERS. 

 BY D. W. RAY. 



Beauty' of every kind was formed to captivate, and there is this pecil- 

 liar advantage in contemplating the beauties of the natural woild, that 

 while we permit ourselves to be captivated with the beauties of animated 

 nature, we are under no apprehension of dishonorable servitude. A taste 

 for the cultivation of flowers, and for the beauties of vegetation, is the 

 mark of a pure and innocent mind, and at the same time one of tlie best 

 preservatives of purity and innocence. It diverts the attention from the 

 turbulent scenes of folly, and induces a placid tranquillity, highly 

 favorable to the gentler virtues and to the permanency of the most re- 

 fined enjoyments. Nature seems to have distributed flowers over the en- 

 tire world, to serve as a medicine to the mind of man, to give cheerful- 

 ness to the earth and furnish agreeable sensations to its inhabitants. When 

 color and shape are combined in perfection, who can view a flower with 

 insensibility. He that can must waive all pretensions to perception of 

 taste, or refinement of delicacy. There is scarcely a single object in t?ie 

 floral world, in which so many agreeable qualities are united, as in that 

 queen of flowers, the Eose. This beautiful shrub is found in almost every 

 clime and country, and in every clime its beauty, its fragrance, the vari- 

 ety of forms and colors it assumes, and the long time it remains in per- 

 fection, has rendered it the subject of the poet's song, the ornament of the 

 garden, the object of admiration. The God of nature, as if delighted with 

 this exquisite production of his hand, has multiplied its species and vari- 

 eties to an almost unlimited extent. The bard has also sung its praises 

 in all ages of the world. It has been wedded to the Nightingale, and 

 the beauty and fragrance of this wonderful flower have been the theme 

 of every tongue. The soul seems to be refreshed on a fine summer morn- 

 ing, (while the happy songsters of the grove are pouring forth their "Ma- 

 tin" songs of joy,) at the view of a fine collection of standard, moss, cottage 

 and summer Roses, all breathing the sweetest fragrance as they lay bask- 



