The Canadian Horticulturist. 231 



PLAIN HINTS ON FRUIT GROWING— NO. V. 



KEEP THINE OWN VINEYARD. 



j£ HERE are three aspects under which profit is realized by the success- 

 ful tiller of trie soil 



I. That for which by far the greater number engage in it, viz., to 

 make money or temporal gain. " Will it pay ? " is about ^the first 

 question that is asked by the many who are about to launch upon the 

 tide of effort in gardening and fruit growing. And the answer to this 

 question, affirmatively, depends so muc hupon the right judgment, well directed 

 effort and perseverance, which must necessarily be brought to bear in order to 

 succeed, that it is little wonder that many fail to make it pay. 



Many, who have succeeded in various lines of effort in business and the pro- 

 fessions, think that it is an easy matter to retire on a piece of land and " go to 

 gardening. " Others again who have failed in everything else, think that, as a 

 " dernier resort," they can fall back on gardening as a paying occupation. But 

 without experience, or a knowledge of the obstacles they must surmount, they go 

 at it, like shooting an arrow at a venture, and, ten to one, fail. 



Others again, sit quietly down, count well the cost ; look on both sides of the 

 question, and in the face of all possible chances of success or failure, grasp the 

 practical and put it into execution, and, ten to one, succeed. And when success 

 in a financial point of view has crowned their efforts, and they have mastered 

 the situation fully, they can enter upon the 



2nd aspect of profit, which \% physical health. In order to enjoy a good degree 

 of bodily health and vigor, there should be an easy mind in a sound body, and both 

 have that action in the proper season, which causes a relish of both food and 

 rest. These rightly enjoyed, with all care and anxiety kept under foot, their 

 recipient is prepared to enter upon the 



3rd aspect of profit, viz., a devotional frame of mind. If we never rise above 

 the financial or physical gains of our occupation, we are but poor indeed in the 

 field of pure enjoyment and real profit. If we can go out into our gardens and 

 lay aside all carping cares and temporal distractions, and rise into the sublimity 

 of meditation upon the works of our Heavenly Father, then we can render a trib- 

 ute of praise and thanksgiving for all that we are privileged to enjoy, and take 

 both courage and comfort in the pursuit of the noblest of all earthly callings, the 

 tilling of the soil, in its various aspects and varied returns. 



As a prolific help to our three-fold means of enjoyment, one would earnestly 

 present the thought contained in the heading of this paper, " Keep thine own 

 vineyard. " 



It pays in a financial sense to look after your garden or farm, in person, not 

 to trust to careless employees, who, oftener than otherwise, think of putting in 



