40 



^ u FLOWERS. 



greenhouse. While no community can boast of too 

 many of the latter, we believe the former class should 

 be encouraged to do something, or if already doing, 

 then more, in the way of cultivating flowers. For it is 

 the universalitv of flowers rather than here and there 

 a magnificent profusion that is to benefit and bless the 

 world. The poor man who toils hard to raise grain, 

 potatoes, and the like, and thus obtains a livelihood for 

 his family, does well. But he can do better. Without 

 neglecting in the least what are considered the more 

 practical and substantial duties of husbandry, he can 

 take a little time to cultivate some few choice flowers 

 which may, while ministering to his higher wants, pro- 

 duce even a little income. In many instances a mere 

 amateur in the business has originated some splendid 

 plant for which the nurseryman has been glacl to pay 

 twice the amount of all his fruit and vegetables. But 

 set the pecuniary consideration aside. Let it not 

 become a question of dollars and cents. For not every- 

 thing should be measured by a standard of mere 

 utility and profit. That man should be pitied who can 

 see no good in life but in the pecuniary gain or in the 

 mere animal indulgences of eating and drinking. 



In the matter of floriculture it is said that our rural 

 population is far behind that of England and France. 

 "There one can hardly pass a cottage even of the 

 humblest kind, that is not adorned with a border or 

 two of flowers, consisting of roses, daisies, tulips, or 

 iris, and which has not climbing plants, as, for instance, 

 the jessamine, and rose, and honeysuckle, crowning its 

 windows and porches, and hanging like pictured tap- 

 estry about the walls." 



Mrs, Howitt in her work entitled " Rural Life in 



