14 



Many of the farmers of this county look out of their own 

 windoAvs upon lawns as fair and sloping, as can be found in 

 Fairmount or Central Parks. Their estates contain grottos 

 and glens as lovely and secluded as in either of these, and 

 forest and woodland as varied and more extensive than in any 

 public park in the country. 



I know of no way of enjoying these scenes in nature so 

 profitably as by doing as we have in West Newbury (you 

 will excuse me for referring again to my own town by way 

 of illustration). We have a little Botanical Club, some 

 three years of age, which having struggled hard for an ex- 

 istence in its earlier days, now numbers over forty-five mem- 

 bers, including manv of our most intelligent and valuable 

 citizens. Our two physicians were unwittingly drawn in, not 

 suspecting that the thing was interfering with their means of 

 a livelihood, and we hope at an early day to dispense with the 

 services of both these gentlemen, although we value them 

 highly as friends and townsmen. Our plan is to hold field 

 meetings about once a month, especially during spring and 

 autumn. A pleasant grove in some neighboring town is gen- 

 erally selected as a place of rendezvous, to which the mem- 

 bers go by different routes, at their own convenience. A 

 basket picnic at noon is usually followed by a discussion in the 

 most friendly and familiar way, of the various specimens we 

 have gathered, and all return home at an early hour, pleased 

 and delighted with the occasion; and we are unanimously 

 agreed that our minds and bodies are so refreshed and invig- 

 orated by these little respites, that we can perform more la- 

 bor, both mental and physical, than if we had not indulged in 

 them. We meet once a month during winter, at the house of 

 some member, to hear an essay and enjoy asocial chat on any 

 subject connected with botany ; but the principal enjoyment 

 comes from our rambles in summer through woodland and 

 pasture in search of wild flowers, which is delightful in itself, 

 besides being eminently healthful. We believe thoroughly 

 in out of door exercise for all classes ; and that walking, suit- 

 ably dressed, with a pleasant object in view, is far better for 



