THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



their conservatories and plantutions, tlie well-to-do in London their 

 greenhouse and their parterre, the liunihler lovers of all green things 

 ilieir fern-case and tiower-stands ; but the dwellers in the one hack 

 room, the weary city clerk with his limited salary, his many mouths to 

 feed, and his circumscribed house-room, have only their window gar- 

 den — their long wooden box, enriched it may be "with gaudy tiles — 

 wherein to plant their childhood's favorites and keep the color of God's 

 carpet green in their memories. 



Flowers and music make the j)oetry of life, and the more the toilers 

 in this city of brick and mortar are made familiar with them, the 

 better for their mental and moral health. This conviction has spread 

 rapidly during the last few years, the rich having set the example by 

 festooning their town houses with hardy climbers, while their balconies 

 are filled in Summer with flowers. 



The sul)tle influence of flowei's on mankind is so thoroughly admit- 

 led, that' it seems as though the remembrance of the 'garden the Lord 

 planted' has never died out of the perception of the human race ; the 

 love and cultivation of plants has always had an elevating tendency — 

 a drawing near to those far-off days of innocence when the trees and 

 flowers and song of the wild bird were man's delight, as he ' walked 

 with God.' 



The Dean of Westminster, other dignitaries of the Church, liigh- 

 l>orn ladies, and people of wealth and leisure, have done much lately 

 towards fostering this growing feeling among all classes by giving 

 prizes for the best plants grown in dingy back yards and smoky 

 garret-rooms ; and it is as astonishing as it is touching to find how, 

 like a human l)eing, the little plant adapts itself to its surroundings, 

 and throws out its beauty and fragrance in return for a little patience 

 and tender care. 



Annual exhibitions of workmen's flowers take place patronised by 

 the highest in the land ; in all directions efforts are being made to 

 .spread the growing taste, and, above all, to give the toiling man and 

 woman a home interest, a something to tend and watch, which is 

 nature's only safeguard against selfishness. 



Few who have visited the sick, whether poor or otherwise, have 

 not seen the flush of pleasure that tints their pale cheeks at an offering 

 .of flowers 



