ON GARDENING. 79 



ject of gardening. Within my observation this branch of agricul- 

 ture seems to be much neglected : and by no class more so than 

 by our large farmers. 



Their numerous calls for labor upon other parts of tb.eir farms 

 in the season for gardening is doubtless the principal cause, but 

 still there must be a defect of taste, and want of a just estimate 

 of its importance, or it could not be so much neglected. 



1 am not sure how the account might balance if every hour's 

 labor was hired, and the amount of income esiimiated, but w hen 

 we consider its adaptedness to employ hours of leisure in the 

 morning and evening, and the luxuries it affords, in addition to 

 mere necessaries which are not otherwise attainable in the 

 country, its utility admits not of a doubt. 



A quarter of an acre allotted to the purpose, in a convenient 

 situation, and properly cultivated with the great variety of roots 

 and vegetables w^hich the present improved state of horticulture 

 affords, will yield to a family not only a luxurious but a whole- 

 some and profitable addition to half of the meals in the year. 



A farmer should be ashamed to see no vegetables upon his 

 table but potatoes, while land enough lies barren near his door, 

 to produce beets, carrots, parsnips, onions, turnips, cabbage, 

 squashes, and cucumbers, to supply aU the tables in his neigh- 

 borhood ; and he may also well afford to put into the ground a 

 few of the seeds of beautiful herbs and flowers ; for almost with- 

 out further labor, nature in her prolific luxuriance, will return a 

 profusion of her choicest productions, both for use and ornament ; 

 and here by the way the poppy, though often rooted up and 

 thrown away as a useless weed, is entitled to our special care. 

 It should be gathered when in full bloom, both green leaves and 

 flowers, and carefully dried in the shade. It is a most useful 

 medicine, to assuage pain, and more convenient for external ap- 

 plication than the expensive drug which is extracted from it, 

 and imported from foreign countries. 



Much discussion has been had among the scientific farmers as 

 to the best modes of raising fruit trees, and no doubt to great ad- 

 vantage ; but much more need be said, to induce people to 

 make constant use of the kno\vlede;e they already have. 



