120 PLAIN JLND PLEASANT TALK 



think that rivalry among the young in rearing the choicest 

 plants, the most resplendent flowers, would be altogether a 

 wise exchange for a rivalry of lace, and ribbons, and silks. 

 And, even if poor human nature must be forced to allow 

 the privilege of criticising each other something severely, 

 it would be much more amiable to pull roses to pieces, than 

 to pull caps ; all the shafts which are now cast at the luck- 

 less beauty, might more harmlessly be cast upon the glow- 

 ing shield of her dahlias or upon the cup of her tulips. 



A love of flowers would beget early rising, industry, 

 habits of close observation, and of reading. It would 

 incline the mind to notice natural phenomena, and to reason 

 upon them. It would occupy the mind with pure thoughts, 

 and inspire a sweet and gentle enthusiasm ; maintain sim- 

 plicity of taste ; and in connection with personal instruction, 

 unfold in the heart an enlarged, unstraitened, ardent piety. 



KEEPING 1OUNQ PIGS IN WINTER. 



THERE is both negligence, and mistake, in the way of win- 

 tering pigs. I am not talking to those whose manner of 

 keeping stock is, to let stock take care of themselves ; but 

 to farmers who mean to be careful. Hogs should be sorted. 

 The little ones will, otherwise, be cheated at the trough, 

 and overlaid and smothered in the sleeping-heap. There 

 should not be too many in one inclosure ; especially young 

 pigs should not sleep in crowds ; for, although they sleep 

 warmer, they will suffer on that very account. Lying in 

 piles, they get sweaty ; the skin is much more sensitive to 

 the cold, and coming out in the morning reaking and smok- 

 ing, the keen air pierces them. In this way, young pigs die 

 off through the winter by being too warm at night. If you 

 have the land-shark and alligator breed, however, you should 

 crowd these together, for the more they die off the better 

 for the farmer. 



