GARDENING AS AN AMUSEMENT. 197 



men. I shall, when I see you, relate some sto- 

 ries of the love of great men for the pursuit 

 itself. One of the wisest that ever lived in 

 England, I mean Lord Bacon, pursued gar 

 dening with eagerness and delight, and in its 

 pursuit made some of the experiments, and 

 acquired that habit of examination, which has 

 made him celebrated in every age. 



We have not yet, in our country, paid that 

 attention to gardening, generally, which the 

 beauty of flowers and the benefits resulting to 

 the cultivator demand. But our Horticultural 

 Societies, by their exhibitions, are doing much 

 to awaken public attention, and it cannot be a 

 long time before the pleasures of the garden 

 and green-house will be fully appreciated by 

 our citizens. 



You tell me, you continue so fond of the 

 garden, that you will brave the cold, during 



