EVERT WOMAN HER OWN FLOWER GARDENER. 7 



I have little faith in American women becoming farmers, holding 

 the plow wielding the spade or the shovel; but I do know from long 

 experience, that all the rest of the work can be accomplished by women, 

 if they possess a love for the beautiful. There lies the trouble ; few of 

 our children are taught to garden ; if they possess a natural taste for 

 the pursuit, sometimes it is gratified, but not always. 



Mrs. Japonica and Miss McFlimsey hold up their hands in holy >' 

 horror at the very idea of any of their kindred soiling their hands with 

 the work. 



"Flora work among her namesakes!" they exclaim; "forbid it all 

 Japonicadom ! " 



Yet how much harder do they work at the crowded party or ball ! 

 To dance the " German," requires quite as much physical strength as to 

 plant a flower-garden, and rake off the weeds; but that is the fashion, 

 and beef tea and stimulants must be resorted to, to sustain the feeble 

 knees, uplift the nerveless fingers. Women can find strength to culti- 

 vate a garden successfully, if they will commence by degrees. If their 

 muscles and sinews are not accustomed to the work, they will soon 

 rebel against it when forced to attend to it for several hours at once. 



Garden by degrees, my friends, and cultivate your muscles, with your " 

 plants ! 



An hour, or even half an hour, is long enough for a commencement, 

 and the next day extend the time ten minutes, and so on, until you can 

 work for three, or even six hours in succession. 



But take it easy ; provide an old piece of carpeting to kneel upon 

 while planting, or weeding with a fork; and if your knees are not 

 accustomed to that position, humor them by placing an empty raisin or 

 soap box upon the carpet, and sit upon that; and if a cushion would 

 also be agreeable, cover a small pillow with some dark chintz, and 

 place that on the box. Now you will have a luxurious seat, and can 

 garden without a sense of pain; yet don't stay too long, nor become too 

 muck heated. The carpeting protects the skirts from the dampness of | 

 the soil, and should always be used. It can be kept conveniently at ( y 

 hand, with the box and the cushion. 



Of course, flounces, puifs, and furbelows, with their accompanying 

 upper skirts, are not suitable for such occupations. A dark chintz 

 dress is the best, for it can go into the wash-tub when it is in need of 

 cleansing. A woolen bathing dress makes an excellent garden costume 



