FLOWERS. 59 



exceecHngly tempting to the mere animal taste, they are but the 

 material of apple dumplings, johnny cakes, beef, pork and fast 

 horses. They still receive high honorable premiums ; Avhile Floiv- 

 ers, bright, fragrant, beautiful flowers, "parents of all the vegetable 

 ■world," have only a trifling ^^gratidtt/." Well may the fig tree 

 refuse to blossom under such a dispensation. 



No one Avho has a note of music, or a love of the beautiful in 

 his soul, can contemplate these magnificent contributions from the 

 flower gardens of a Lawrence, an Oliver, a Walker, a Thornton, a 

 Harmon, a Minot, a Gardner, a Turner, and others, without admi- 

 ration for the refined taste of the producers, and a most lively 

 sense of gratitude for such unmistakeable evidences of a divine 

 purpose in the "Father of all" to feed the high moral as well as 

 the physical v/ants of all his children. Such a display of beauty, 

 innocence and purity, in floral gems, is worthy of man. It gives 

 an almost unappreciable charm to every other department of your 

 exhibition ; and prompts us most earnestly to ask that future 

 '■^Committees on Flowers'^ may not want, as we do, more abundant 

 means, to encourage even the most humble eflbrts, to cheer and 

 beautify the earth and your halls wuth these wonderful productions. 



However much may have been said or sung in praise of floricul- 

 ture, its importance in harmonizing the discordant elements of 

 humanity has never been duly appreciated. The child whose early 

 life is devoted to a pure love of the beautiful in nature, is almost 

 sure to have a future unfailing love of his home, his country, and 

 his God. The home of the free Switzer is said to be sacred to him 

 by his recollections of cultivating flowers in childhood. It nerves 

 his arm in his country's defence. Pure patriotism is not the mush- 

 room production of a night. "It grows with our growth, and 

 strengthens with our strength." 



One recollection of a happy childhood is far more efficient in the 

 salvation of one's country, than a thousand aspirations after politi- 

 cal preferment. As wealth is valueless without the means of se- 

 cui-ing its possession, what can utilitarians even, who sc .)rn whatever 

 answers no material purpose, devise more useful to our country than 

 the means of arming its rising population, Its future champions and 

 defenders, with that imperishable love of home which will nerve 

 their arms, and render them invincible, should their rights be 

 invaded ? 



