10 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



ercise afforded in moving tlie fresh soil, and' the interest 

 excited by the diversified operations of the garden, are 

 still more salutary. In profit — ^but of that hereafter. In 

 pleasure — ^for what is more delightful than to watch the 

 daily developments of that which our own hands have 

 planted, cultivated, and sheltered — or to witness, as the 

 skillful gardener will do, the constantly improving condi 

 tion of his soil, or to partake of the daily succession of 

 choice vegetables and luscious fruits brought to perfection 

 by his skill and care, or to enjoy the more spiritual and 

 refined pleasures of landscape and flower-gardening where 

 the eye is charmed with the greenness and breadth of lawns 

 grouped with all rare and magnificent trees, or with par- 

 terres gay with brilliant colors and profuse with beautiful 

 and perfect forms. But those who possess a taste for gar- 

 dening need no display of inducements to attract them to 

 their favorite haunts. 



They will not seek in these pages for arguments in 

 favor of gardening, but for suggestions and instructions as 

 to the best methods of performing its operations. 



