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flowers, whose colors, fragrance and forms would seem to mark 

 them out as worthy of the minutest attention. Then they lose a 

 large part of the benefits they might receive from the influences 

 of the natural world. But every year enlarges the class of culti- 

 vated men and women, who find some of their purest satisfactions 

 in an intimate acquaintance with the quahties and the modes of 

 growth of flowers ; and their pleasure is changed into admiration 

 in proportion to the increase of their knowledge, which incites 

 them to new study and reflection. Farmers feel constrained to 

 look after the useful first and chiefly ; sometimes grudging to 

 wives and daughters even the front court-yard, which might be 

 planted with potatoes. They forget that the value of the house, 

 as a dwelling, is increased by a garden with trees and flowering 

 shrubs, and none the less by flowers in the windows or climbing 

 on trellises. But the heart has its claims, and there is a ra- 

 tional satisfaction in gratifying the demands of taste, — a pleasure 

 that leaves no sting behind. Besides, God takes as much pains 

 with flowers as he does with corn, finishing them with exquisite 

 grace to attract our attention and to lead us through them to 

 Himself. Solomon, in his glorious apparel, was not arrayed like 

 the lily of the valley or the rose of Sharon. Shall these works of 

 the Divine artist be disregarded or fail to be appreciated ? 



Whv should floriculture be esteemed a trivial business, when it 

 preserves purity and suggests good thoughts ? — when it developes 

 our sense of the beautiful, and intensifies our conviction of the 

 presence of God in the world ? 



We are glad to see that every year our common house-gardens 

 are enriched by improved varieties of old favorites. It is a bad 

 fashion to neglect old, and once cherished flowers, for the latest 

 novelties, which are usually expensive and often worthless. We 

 refer, especially to the peony, phlox, larkspur, holly-hock and 

 gladiolus. Within a few years these have been much improved, 

 and have become worthy, not only of domestic cultivation, but 

 also of the florist's care. Wc hope, in each succeeding year, to 

 see an increasing contribution to this department of the Fair, 

 which is sure to attract throughout the day a crowd of admiring 

 visitors. Norfolk County is unrivalled in respect to its conserva- 

 tories and hot-houses and costly exotics. May it also occupy the 

 first place in respect to those more common flowers within the 

 reach of all, which make our homes more precious by making 

 them more attractive. 



" There is a lesson in each flower, 

 A story in each stream and bower ; 

 In every herb on which you tread, 

 Are written woi'ds, which, rightly read, 

 Will lead you from earth's fragrant sod, 

 To hope and holiness and God." 



