THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



The desire tu maice one's home attractive and pleasant is pro- 

 minent in tte mind of every rigtt-tliinking person, not merely 

 for his own enjoyment, hut more for the sake of Tiis children. 

 Home shotdd he the most attractive place our children can find, 

 and all the charms that we can throw around it will be as so many 

 links to bind them to the spot that is to them both a sanctuary and 

 a shelter. Besides this, the surroundings of home have a formative 

 power upon the character of those who dwell there, and a 

 stranger may teU much of the mind and heart of the inmates 

 by looking at the door-yard. 



To encourage and help those who are striving to twine some 

 flowers in the strands of daily toil, who are wishing to set those 

 plants which, though not ministering food to the eater, shall 

 cheer with their winsome beauty the dwellers at home, smile out 

 a welcome to the entering guest, or greet with a cheery pleasant- 

 ness the passer-by ; to help such have these pages, devoted to the 

 Flower Garden, been penned. 



Our Canadian climate may not be the most favorable for 

 lavish display of floral beauty, yet there are many beautifiil 

 things that wiU endure our climate, and, if it be necessary to 

 bestow more thought and care upon the culture and protection 

 of the trees, shrubs, and plants which we desire to have about 

 our dweUings than is requisite in more sunny climes, this very 

 care only heightens our enjoyment, and deepens our love for the 

 things we thiis cherish. Take courage, then ; the Canadian's 

 motto is " to make a path where he cannot find one," and if the 

 floral treasures of the tropics do not grow naturally in our northern 

 land, we wiU. set about our homes those things which harmonize 

 better with the natural features of our country, and compel 



