Viii PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



the growing vice which ruins all! In proportion 

 as drinking decays, the relish of home will revive; 

 and in proportion as a cultivated taste makes home 

 more cheerful, will the safety of morals be secured. 

 Thus external things, in themselves so trivial as 

 the planting of shrubs, are great when viewed in 

 connection with the moral feelings whence they 

 proceed and the salutary effects which they pro- 

 duce. And whilst it is gratifying from recent 

 beginnings to anticipate a further progress in such 

 matters of taste as tend to improve the social affec- 

 tions, the following incident, which fell within the 

 Author's knowledge, he begs to record, not only as 

 pleasing in itself, but valuable as a sign of the spirit 

 that is awakened: A landlord, not more illustrious 

 for rank than generosity, conceiving that he was 

 under obligation to one of his tenants, whether for 

 looking after the game or other civility, asked by 

 what favour the attention might be repaid. Instead 

 of any grumbling as to rent or roads, enclosures or 

 household convenience, the request, as modest as it 

 was elegant, was only a " bit of plantation for shel- 

 ter and ornament to the dwelling." Sure is the 

 Author, that falling into such hands his little 

 treatise would be hailed as quite the thing to tell 

 how a bit of plantation may be put down to the 

 best advantage. Wherever such fancy for lauda- 

 ble ornament is found, (and it is a thing which, like 

 fashion, spreads fast and far,) the pastor, by sug- 

 gesting this Guide to simple gardening, may at 

 the same time do a kindness to one of his flock, and 

 aiding the cause in which he writes, delight the 

 heart of another friend THE AUTHOR. 



