ADVICE FOR LACKLAND. 27 



to talk about the comparative influences of potash or 

 of some simple styptic upon an irritated mucous 

 membrane, to a man who wants simply something 

 to cure a sore throat. It is the aim of the Horticul- 

 turist to push both land and plants to the last limit 

 of their capacity to establish new varieties to pro- 

 voke nature by incessant pinchings into some abnor- 

 mal development ; whereas the aim of the mass of 

 suburban residents is to have a cheery array of flowers 

 good fruit and plenty of it, at the smallest possible 

 cost. If indeed the latter have any hope of winning 

 what they wish, by simple transfer of their home 

 from city to country, without any care or cost what- 

 ever, they are grossly mistaken. If a mere, bald love 

 of fruit-eating, without any love for the ways of its 

 production calls a man to the country, I would 

 strongly advise him to stay in town, and buy fruit 

 at the city markets ; and the man who goes into the 

 country merely to stretch his legs, I would as strongly 

 advise to do it on Broadway, or in bed. Nature is a 

 mistress that must be wooed with a will ; and there 

 is no mistress worth the having, that must not be 

 wooed in the same way. 



But the distinction remains which I have laid 

 down between the aims of the Pomologists and of the 

 quiet country liver. And I am strongly inclined to 

 think that the former are a little too much disposed 



