54 HORTICULTURE. 



taken here at all, is taken too often as a matter of duty ; that it is 

 then only a lifeless duty, and has no soul in it ; while the English 

 woman, who takes a living interest in her rural employments, in- 

 hales new life in every day's occupation, and plants perpetual roses 

 in her cheeks, by the mere act of planting them in her garden. 



" But, Mr. Downing, think of the hot sun in this country, and 

 our complexions ! " 



Yes, yes, we know it. But get up an hour earlier, fair reader ; 

 put on your broadest sun-bonnet, and your stoutest pair of gloves, 

 and try the problem of health, enjoyment and beauty, before the 

 sun gets too ardent. A great deal may be done in this way ; and 

 after a while, if your heart is in the right place for ruralities, you 

 will find the occupation so fascinating that you will gradually find 

 yourself able to enjoy keenly what was at first only a very irksome 

 sort of duty. 



