ESSAYS 



ON 



NATURAL HISTORY, 



FLOWER-GARDENS AND SONG BIRDS. 



With pruning-knife, the useless branch he cuts, 

 And in its place a graft prolific puts. 



How I prize the gardener ! He is Nature's 

 primest jeweller; and he has the power of 

 placing within our reach all that is nutritive, 

 and luscious, and lovely in the enchanting 

 domains of Flora and Pomona. Without his 

 assistance, Nature w r ould soon run out into 

 uncurbed luxuriance ; the flowery lawn would 

 disappear, and ere long the hemlock and the 



&c. &c. 



Inutilesque falce ramos amputans. 

 Felicioris inserit." 



Horace. 



B 



