9S 



t^tns ) and tKe children's pretty and neat flower border may 

 become a better teacher of virtues indispensable to success, 

 than money or maxims of policy could ensure. Besides, it is 

 a great end gained, when home becomes the most attractive 

 place ; when the garden is better than the street or the high- 

 way ibr boys' recreation ; and where books and newspapers 

 and external and internal decoration prove more attractive 

 than the corner, or the village store. Such, among other 

 means, can floriculture and its periodical literature render any 

 farmer's home to himself and to his children. 



In every crisis that calls for true and sincere patriotism, and 

 love of human rightsj we look mainly to the intelligent and 

 happy homes, where the hearth-stone or the door-step is the 

 dearest spot, because sanctified by whatever elevates and re- 

 fines ; and that home will be the longest remembered in which 

 domestic comforts have been produced by the happiest, sweet- 

 est and purest means. 



I have thought that were premiums awarded in elementary 

 treatises or in books to children for the best cared for flower 

 border, the best grown pot-flower, or the prettiest boquet of a 

 limited number of blossoms and kinds of leaves, the design of 

 premiums and gratuities might be properly promoted; or a 

 small outlay of the annual appropriation in new seeds to be 

 distributed to youthful competitors and their produce exhibited 

 at the fair, would promote taste in the right direction. Or 

 packages of such seeds might serve as a premium if thought 

 advisable, many probably availing themselves of such a privi- 

 lege. 



A few ivords on boqnets. — The skilful arrangement of flowers 

 is acquired only by long experience ; but a few hints may not 

 be out of place. A boquet may be artistical and formal, or 

 natural and graceful. When flowers are scarce the former is 

 admissible ; and in winter the florist must avail himself of every 

 flower he can command ; hence he ties them to a stiff" stick, 

 'which he conceals by winding them closely, so as to present 

 •an unbroken surface. Such a boquet becomes too expensive. 



