GARDENS. 
133 
things are but the free gifts of Pro\ddence to himself, and he 
learns at last that it is a pleasure, as well as a duty, to give. 
This head of cabbage shall be sent to a poor neighbor; that 
basket of refreshing fruit is reserved for the sick ; he has pretty 
nosegays for his female friends ; he has apples or peaches for lit- 
tle people ; nay, perhaps in the course of years, he at length 
achieves the highest act of generosity — he bestows on some friendly 
rival a portion of his rarest seed, a shoot from his most precious 
root ! Such deeds are done by gardeners. 
Horticulture is not carried on upon a great scale anywhere in 
this county. We regret that this should be so. A large gar- 
den, where taste and knowledge have full scope, is indeed a noble 
work, full of instruction and delight. The rare trees and plants 
brought with toil, and cost, and patience, from, distant regions ; 
the rich variety of fruits and vegetables ; the charming array of 
flowers, are among the most precious and the most graceful tro- 
phies of commerce, and industry, and adventure. Such gardens, 
whether public or private, are always desirable in a neighborhood. 
They are among the best gifts of wealth, and scatter abroad too 
many benefits to deserve the doubtful name of a luxury. If we have 
none near enough to bring good to our own rural village, it is at 
least pleasant to remember that other communities are more for- 
tunate than ourselves. When one cannot enjoy some particular 
good thing one's self, a very httle charity, and a very little phi- 
losophy, lead one to be glad, at least, that others may profit by it. 
A very striking proof of the civilizing effect of large gardens 
may be seen any day in the great towns on the Continent of Eu- 
rope, whether in France, Italy,' Germany, &c., &c. In those old 
countries, where grounds of this kind have been more or less open 
