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the gay Indian pink—the delicate dodecateen, called by some American 
cow-slip—the curious Moccasin flower, and many other natives of our 
wilds which display new beauties when cultivated, and are worthy a place 
in any collection. The ‘ waxberry,’ so much cultivated in eastern shrub¬ 
beries grows here abundantly in the woods—and the wild rose, as com¬ 
mon as a weed, should not be omitted. The high bush cranberry is also 
a handsome shrub, and the sumach is certainly worthy of attention. The 
trees alas ! must be replaced, and here we are at no loss—the maple, 
linden, elm, &c., and, in certain localities, the mountain ash, pines, and 
even hemlock are abundant—the tamarack, though not an evergreen, is 
not to be despised ; all these, or a portion of them at least, can find a 
place about the home of the poorest settler within our borders. The 
scene is certainly changed, most delightfully improved; and all this may 
be done without the outlay of a single dollar—a little time and labor, 
joined with a ‘hearty good will,’ will accomplish wonders. 
Again—It is to be deplored that an idea of the ‘fitness of things’ is 
not more an element of our national tastes ; and thus in our rural homes, 
we often observe, a tall, straight house, perched upon some site, un¬ 
shaded by trees—(of course these were levelled to begin with)—exposed 
on all sides to sun and wind, as near as possible to the dusty highway—* 
while all around we see broad and fertile fields, and at a distance an oak 
embowered eminence, where we inwardly wonder that the owner of so 
much wealth and beauty did not build his house. But supposing the 
house had been built according to our tastes without consulting the own¬ 
ers—imagine this residence, to be erected for comfort, for pleasure, and 
for living in—this pleasant grove, a beautiful oak opening shall be our 
choice—allow plenty of room for a wide lawn in front; let all the rooms 
most occupied command a view of the lawn and flower garden ; let it be 
furnished with wide verandahs, whose pillars and lattice work are entwined 
with climbing roses and fragrant honeysuckles ; let the grounds, already 
furnished with trees of nature’s own planting, be agreeably diversified 
with other varieties of our native forest trees, with a group of evergreens 
here and there, and embellished with shrubbery— 
The lilac and the snow-ball flower, 
And the laburnam with its golden strings 
Waving in the wind, and when the autumn comes 
The bright red beniea of the mountain ash—• 
