112 [Assembly 



laid out with the choicest kinds of flowering plants, dwarf fruits, 

 grape vines, and evergreens, and kept in the neatest order. A 

 good deal of experience and observation has convinced me that 

 neatness and order in a flower garden do much to produce a cor- 

 responding order of things through the whole household. In 

 addition to the flower garden, there should be a conservatory or 

 glazed piazza, stocked with the choicest winter-flowering plants ; 

 and when the conveniences for these do not exist, a few plants 

 should be kept in the parlor. Some may object to the time, 

 labor, dirt, &c., but these, I can state from experience, are mostly 

 imaginary, and are greatly overbalanced by the benefits and 

 pleasure derived from the culture of these beautiful gems. 



Most people take pride in making their homes look elegant and 

 showy, and many, for this purpose, spend enormous sums for 

 tapestry, damasks, tinsel, and a great variety of gewgaws in 

 wretched bad taste. A part of the money thus spent, judiciously 

 laid out in the purchase of choice flowers,- would give greater 

 evidence of refinement and taste, and render their liomes every 

 way more elegant, neat, and attractive. This state of things I 

 have been laboring for years past to bring about, and the great 

 success I have met with not only encourages me to go on, but 

 gives me reason to believe that the day will come when the 

 presence and love of these charming objects will make " home" 

 so attractive and lovely that its inmates, instead of roaming 

 abroad to seek pleasure and amusement, will find their cliief 

 delight within the precincts of the domestic circle. 



In conclusion, I will add my best wishes for the continued 

 prosperity of the American Institute, and the important interests 

 intrusted to its protection and care. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



PETER B. MEAD, 



Chairman of Horticultural Committee. 



