THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



win its way to public favor, exert a salutary moral 

 influence, and establish a just claim to be regarded 

 as a work of standard authority and usefulness in 

 the department of which it treats. From a very 

 inviting bill of fare contained in its table of con- 

 tents, we pass over several interesting articles, es- 

 pecially one on Beauty in Architecture, and single 

 out for a few extracts one communicated by S. B. 

 Gookins, Esq., on the "Culture of Rural Taste," 

 with particular reference to the embellishments of 

 home — 



"That spot of earth supremely blest; 

 A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest ; 

 # * * * * * * 



Here woman reigns, the mother, daughter, wife ; 

 Strews with fresh flowers the narrow way of life. 

 In the clear heaven of her delightful eye, 

 And angel guard of loves and graces lie; 

 Around her knees domestic duties meet, 

 And fireside pleasures gambol at her feet." 



We proceed to add the extracts above referred 

 to, that our readers may see that the praise we 

 have bestowed is fully justified: 



" Taste is the perception of beauty, and a correct 

 taste is the true standard of judgment, in respect 

 to the harmonious relation of parts. It presents 

 us a very wide field of observation, comprising 

 painting, poetry, architecture, etc., and brings to 

 the standard of judicious criticism, every product 

 of artistic skill." 



" The social condition, the habits of life, the cha- 

 racter of the climate, and many other considera- 

 tions, determine the fitness of the appointments, 

 and surroundings of our habitation." .... 



"No betted field can be found for the display of 

 a refined and cultivated taste than is opened to us 

 here ; for it is the surroundings of home that clothe 

 it in a comely garb, and commend it to our admi- 

 ration." 



"But the chief consideration is the moral effect 

 of a refined and cultivated taste upon the country 

 in general, and upon the family relation in parti- 

 cular. Let us indulge for a moment in a fancy 

 sketch. Here is the dwelling of a comfortable far- 

 mer; it is substantial, plain, unostentatious, but 

 just in its proportions, and adapted to his condition 

 and wants; his grounds are judiciously arranged, 

 and his tenement is surrounded by orchards and 

 gardens, and embowered in roses and evergreens. 

 These elegancies have cost him little. His stalwart 

 limbs are usually devoted to the operations of his 

 farm, but his eyes have also been opened to the 

 beautiful in nature, and he has reclaimed a few 

 hours from his more laborious pursuits, and planted 

 a few shrubs and trees — kind nature has done all 

 the rest. The club of Hercules was enwreathed in 

 roses while he slept; so the sylvan graces have 

 beautified his home during his hours of repose. 

 His children have caught the inspiration, and with 

 an appetite formed for these pure delights, what 

 vicious pleasures shall have power to draw them 

 thence?" 



" The pleasures we derive from the embellish- 

 ments of home, are not merely pleasures of sense. 

 The eye is delighted, it is true, but there is an ele- 

 vating, ennobling sentiment of the heart, brought 

 into exercise by the care we bestow upon these 



objects of our regard. Who cannot remember, 

 when in the days of childhood, he planted an apple 

 seed, a melon, a sunflower, or even an humble bean 1 

 How often, during the period of germination, did 

 you visit the spot; and when, at last, you found 

 the smooth surface slowly bursting up, and you 

 peeped under, and saw the two first leaves — instinct 

 of life, coming forth as it were, at your own bid- 

 ing — how did your young heart dance with delight ! 

 and how did you go, day after day, to watch its 

 development, as one leaf after another was un- 

 folded, and the stalk extended and finally the flower 

 and the fruit appeared. 



" Nor do we in mature life, feel less regard for 

 those things toward which we hold the relation of 

 a foster-parent. We watch the growth of a choice 

 rose or dahlia, or' a favorite graft, with as much 

 interest as the child did his sunflower. It is not 

 difficult to understand why these things give us 

 pleasure. The phrenologist would say, the organ 

 of philoprogenitiveness is agreeably affected. I 

 would say, God loves the excellent and beautiful 

 works of his own hand, and he has imparted the 

 same sentiment'in a degree, to us, whom he has 

 fashioned in his own likeness. 

 ■ "In general, woman's heart is more susceptible 

 to these impressions than man's. It is her peculiar 

 forte to love, to foster, to cherish and to rear. Old 

 or young, she is the universal mother." . . . 



" Here, then, is a field for the exercise of wor 

 men's rights, the possession of which no one will 

 contest, and the power of which none can deny. 

 Here is a mine, whence the choicest gems of earth 

 are dug — gems which adorn the home circle with 

 those rich treasures of purity and love, which shall 

 not fade when the purest carbon shall have lost its 

 lustre. Intellects developed, and affections moulded 

 under the influence of happy homes will be the 

 source of our purest pleasures here : 



"And when the frosts shall come, 

 Transplanted, they shall bloom anew, 

 Impearl'd with drops of heavenly dew, 



In their eternal home." 



REPORT OF GEN. WM. H. RICHARDSON 



To the Virginia State Agricultural Society, of Ms 

 operations as their agent. 



In explanation of the late appearance of the fol- 

 lowing report, it is proper to say, that it was not 

 presented to the Executive Committee until the - 

 February meeting, and was then mislaid by their 

 Secretary and not found until a recent period. 



To Philip St. Geo. Cocke, Esq., 



Pres't of the Viginia State Agricultural Society. 

 Sir, — Having according to the best of my judg- 

 ment and ability discharged the trust committed 

 to me, and the general meeting of the Society being 

 at hand, it seems proper that I should make some 

 report to you ; although from the necessity for long 

 continued and active exertions and of passing almost 

 continually from place to place, it has been impos- 

 sible for me to collect and arrange the materials for 

 such a report as you desire, and as at first I had 

 hoped to present. I have in fact, only reached the 

 city this morning, and am not yet in possession of 

 all the returns it is desirable for me to include. I 

 am therefore restricted to a general outline of the 



