PLEASURE IN GARDENING. 29 



gardener will perhaps assist you in ; but I think 

 it right that you should know the reasons why 

 these things are done, in order to see that they 

 are well done; besides, I hope you will find 

 amusement in learning all these details. There 

 are very few ready-made pleasures. I am sure 

 my sisters feel far more delight in the nose- 

 gays they gather out of their own garden, with 

 which they decorate the school-room, than the 

 rich Miss Marsdens do in the magnificent pro- 

 ductions of their papa's hot-houses. The gar- 

 dener brings into their drawing-room the fine 

 amaryllis, passion-flowers, and cactus, which 

 he has raised with much trouble and at such 

 cost ; and after the young ladies have stared 

 at them, wondered if they smell, and learned 

 their price, they are thrown aw r ay, or forgotten. 

 My sister Jane has long cultivated her garden 

 with great care : she knows the names, habits, 



