V 
Floriculture. 
495 
We are obliged to resort to an infinity of ways to protect our 
house-plants from the influences of a rigid climate, and with some, 
this is an impossibility. A few hardy, well selected plants, either 
for the house or yard will give more enjoyment to the cultivator, 
than a large variety in a neglected condition, and it is astonishing 
how much at home they are with one who really feels an interest 
in their growth. Yet many house-mothers say, “ It is too much 
trouble,” u I have no time.” I know that some things must be 
crowded out of the possibilities of accomplishment in every wo¬ 
man's case. Let us have a care that it is not the best things that 
we let go. If she would consider that upon her depends, in so great 
a degree, the cultivation in those about her cf refined tastes, and 
the u lifting up of the life into something higher than the mere do¬ 
ing of life’s drudgery,” she would not exhaust all her strength up¬ 
on those things which are perfectly absurd and useless for her to 
do. Yet women, over-worked women, who have no time for the 
cultivation of flowers, or to spend amid the marvels of nature, will 
patiently sit, hour after hour, stitching little calico patches to¬ 
gether, and will continue to do so as long as agricultural fairs offer 
premiums for such work. 
j i How much better to take a day’s pic-nic in the woods, occasion¬ 
ally, with the children. These days, scattered along through the 
pleasant months, would demand but little time, and would lighten 
wonderfully the monotony of daily routine, and give a freshness to 
common pleasures that, because they are common, are undervalued. 
We need to be brought face to face with God in Nature. We be¬ 
come strengthened by it. It is profitable, as Byron says, to 
“Go abroad upon the paths of nature. 
And when its voices whisper, 
And its silent things are breathing the deep beauty of the world, 
Kneel at its altar.” 
I wish I might be able to show that the cultivation of flowers, so 
far from being too much trouble, will give more value lor less work 
and expense, than anything which can be done or bought to im¬ 
prove the surroundings of a home. It is only because flowers are 
so plentiful that we forget, or fail to see that they are so surpass¬ 
ingly beautiful. It is strange that anybody can grudge the little 
cost or pains their culture requires. Winter-bound, as we are for 
more than half the year, it is something to have a bit of summer 
