Vlll 



and in proportion as a cultivated taste makes home 

 more cheerful will the safety of morals be secured. 



Thus external things, in themselves so trivial as 

 the planting of shrubs, are great when viewed in con- 

 nection with the moral feelings whence they proceed 

 arid the salutary effects which they produce. And 

 whilst it is gratifying from recent beginnings to an- 

 ticipate a further progress in such matters of taste as 

 tend to improve the social affections, the following 

 incident, which fell within the Author's knowledge, 

 he begs to record, not only as pleasing in itself, but 

 valuable as a sign of the spirit that is awakened : 

 A landlord, not more illustrious for rank than gene- 

 rosity, conceiving that he was under obligation to one 

 of his tenants, whether for looking after the game or 

 other civility, asked by what favour the attention 

 might be repaid. Instead of any grumbling as to 

 rent or roads, enclosures or household convenience, 

 the request, as modest as it was elegant, was only a 

 " bit of plantation for shelter and ornament to the 

 dwelling." Sure is the Author, that falling into 

 such hands his little treatise would be hailed as quite 

 the thing to tell how a bit of plantation may be put 

 down to the best advantage. Wherever such fancy 

 for laudable ornament is found, (and it is a thing 

 which, like fashion, spreads fast and far,) the pastor, 

 by suggesting this Guide to simple gardening, may 

 at the same time do a kindness to one of his flock, 

 and, aiding the cause in which he writes, delight the 

 heart of another friend 



THE AUTHOR. 



