II. 



HINTS ON FLOWER-GARDENS. 



April, 1847. 



WE are once more unlocked from the chilling embraces of the 

 Ice-King ! APRIL, full of soft airs, balm -dropping showers, 

 and fitful gleams of sunshine, brings life and animation to the mil- 

 lions of embryo leaves and blossoms, that, quietly folded up in the 

 bud, have slept the mesmeric sleep of a northern winter APRIL, 

 that first gives us of the Northern States our proper spring flowers, 

 which seem to succeed almost by magic to the barrenness of the 

 month gone by. A few pale snowdrops, sun-bright crocuses, and 

 timidly blushing mezereums, have already gladdened us, like the 

 few faint bars of golden and ruddy light that usher in the full radi 

 ance of sunrise ; but APRIL scatters in her train as she goes out, the 

 first richness and beauty that really belong to a temperate spring. 

 Hyacinths, and daffodils, and violets, bespread her lap and fill the 

 air with fragrance, and the husbandman beholds with joy his orchards 

 gay with the thousand blossoms beautiful harbingers of luscious 

 and abundant crops. 



All this resurrection of sweetness and beauty, inspires us with 

 a desire to look into the Flower- Garden, and to say a few word? 

 about it and the flowers themselves. We trust there are none of 

 " our parish," who, though they may not make flower-gardens, can 

 turn away with impatient or unsympathizing hearts from flowers 

 themselves. If there are such, we must, at the very threshhold of 

 the matter, borrow a homily for them from that pure and eloquent 

 preacher, Mary Howitt : 



