CITY AND NATIVE AMERICAN FLOWER GARDEN. 117 



causes, that condenses and settles on the surface of the ground, 

 which is purified if the earth is frequently turned up ; and, in 

 conjunction with this, the benefit arising is of common inte- 

 rest, in proportion to the quantity of ground kept in such 

 order, in any city or town. 



Phytologists and philosophers inform us that the vegetable 

 kingdom exhales certain gases conducive to the health of 

 mankind ; and hence we infer the utility of trees and plants 

 in cities, especially when we take into consideration their 

 beauty and cooling shade. Nature, the best criterion, con- 

 vinces us of the use of plants and flowers, the earth being 

 covered in a measure with them ; no doubt, for a wise pur- 

 pose the welfare of the animal kingdom. 



In order to derive pleasure from a fine collection of flowers, 

 it is necessary to pay proper attention to their varied and 

 successive flowering; so much the more inviting would 

 they appear to the admirer; and the sure guide to this grati- 

 fication, is to furnish the flower garden with a suitable col- 

 lection of plants. These are the inducements to the culture 

 of the city flower garden; and that a moral lesson may be 

 derived from flowers, is proved, from the researches of the 

 most learned philosophers, to the untaught prattling of the 

 humble cottage. 



The fragrance of the Rose is admired by all; its structure 

 gives a pleasing lesson to the young botanist, or naturalist; 

 to the artist, it furnishes a superior copy for many purposes; 

 and the apothecary extracts many essential oils and waters 

 from its petals, which are also used in a dry state, as con- 

 serves, and for various other purposes. Nor is the ffliife 

 Lily, in its purity, less deserving a place in every city flower 

 garden. Its fragrance, together with its pure white petals, is 

 produced from bulbs, which are valuable in cases of swellings 

 and wounds. 



Flowers contain, also, in their primitive state, male and 

 female parts, covered with the petals, or colored leaves, 

 which are, in their infant state, enveloped in a calyx, or outer 



