172 
the americi-^^ 
garden. 
[Septk 
HOMES M THE OOTTNTET. 
The tendency of our steadily increasing 
population, especially in the Bast, is more 
and more toward the already crowded towns 
and cities, rather than toward a fuller occu¬ 
pation of what Dr. Holmes calls the unpaved 
districts, and this notwithstanding the fact 
that according to modern and popular stand¬ 
ards of progress and culture there has been 
relatively far greater improvement in country 
than in city life during the past fifty years. 
The opportunities for social intercourse, 
for keeping abreast of the times, for the best 
intellectual training, for all the minor com¬ 
forts and conveniences of daily domestic life 
fifty years ago, were scarcely inferior to what 
they are at present. 
The market was across the way for those 
who chose to live near it, and the bakery 
was around the corner; the huckster cried 
aloud in the streets and the organ-grinders 
dispensed the most catching operatic airs 
under the window. The concert-room, the 
lecture-hall, and play-house were witliin easy 
reach, and although sectarian lines were 
drawn with more or less rigor, there was a 
great variety of churches from which to 
choose. The latest fashions in dress were 
displayed in the shop windows, and the 
latest news from the seat of government or 
the seat of war was disseminated in a few 
hours after its arrival within the oily limits; 
water and gas flowed freely, and the saloons 
and the police stations were all too familiar; 
livery stables abounded and picnic excur¬ 
sions were not unknown. 
These and kindred privileges and blessings 
were confined more strictly to the city in 
former years than at present, and country 
dwellers obtained their knowledge of the 
outside world—that is, of the world that 
lay beyond “ the visual line that girt them 
round”—by proxy. They must learn of its 
works and ways, its fashions, follies, and 
crimes, its opinions, its tricks and its man¬ 
ners, through some favored or enterprising 
member of society who had gone forth to 
see and explore. How a few hours’ time and 
a fcw dollars’ outlay will enable each one to 
make his own explorations. There is not a 
remote corner groceiy that may not have 
the news from Washington or London as 
promptly as the President or the Queen; not 
a farmer, fisherman, or mechanic who may 
not know the current price of his product or 
his labor; not a maiden among the Green 
Mountains of Vermont or the savannas of 
Georgia who may not for sixpence have the 
latest fashions, samples and all, direct from 
Stewart’s or White’s. 
It will doubtless be a long time before tho 
country will be as attractive to the majority 
of men as life in town; but as its advantages 
grow more and more apparent and its disad¬ 
vantages diminish, as tho country grows 
more beautiful and productive, owing to thor¬ 
ough, scientific cultivation, it will bo strange 
if rural homes do not come to bo reckoned 
more and more desirable. Of these there are 
two distinct types, the most common at the 
present time being those which are built and 
maintained from without, which are in effect 
suburban homos, although they may bo 
primitive Sabbath day’s journey from any 
large town or city.and they ^ 
ent for their essential com 
ienoes upou tie soi on doubtless 
i>..t iriitS 
The 
,|,.t e.n be town ft.nt lb. -itUtseM" 
not thrive to . gt.*t “‘f* Nothing, 
opinion that the farmers life i>i N 
land is one of um-emitting and ’ 
quited toil and privationfor ^ 
and his children, for his 
maid-servants, his cattle and oxen still pie 
vails in spite of high prices, good markets, 
and the great advance in agricultural know 
edge and facilities for doing work. 
Doubtless, common sense will ultimately 
prevail. Every recurring period of hard 
times throws more or less men back to the 
first principle of earning a living by tho 
sweat of their brows, and every demonstra¬ 
tion of tho wisdom and profit of strictly 
scientific farming attracts still others to this 
most aucientand honorable calling, ancient 
surely, but honorable only as it is intelli¬ 
gently followed .—The Buiklov. 
GLADIOLUS EXHIBITIONS. 
Private Flower Exhibitions are steadily in¬ 
creasing in New-York City, and being held 
down-town in the most frequented business 
quarters of the city, are visited by many 
persons who could not, or imagine they could 
not, afford tho time to attend the monthly 
exhibitions of the Horticultural Society. The 
exhibitions of P. Henderson & Co. and Y’oung 
& Elliott were unusually fine, and many visi¬ 
tors had, no doubt, never before seen such a 
display; yet both of these were excelled by 
that of B. K. Bliss & Sons. The Ncie-York 
Tribune says of it: 
“A stream of visitors kept passing in and 
out of the warehouse of B. K. Bliss & Sons, 
34 Barclay St., yesterday. Business men’ 
walking by, were attracted by the perfume of 
flowers, and willingly accepted tho invitation 
posted on the door to step in and view a floral 
exhibition. No expense has been spared to 
make the colloctioii of flowers as complete as 
possible, and as tlio climatic conditiolis have 
for the past two or three montlis been o.x- 
ceptionally favorable, tlie exhibition is one 
of the best that Now-York lias seen. It i,, 
eludes many varieties soon in this co,.,,. 
for Uio first time. A largo bunch of white 
Iigridias, placed between tlio red and yr„ow 
varieties, attracted iniicli 
attention, and tho 
comprised all 
■nost iiotablo 
collection of Hybrid Gladiolus is the I,,.. . 
and best in the countrv omb,.., 
and rare varieties.’’ 
Tho collection of Gladiolus 
tlio choicest now varieties, 
among wliich wore : ’ 
Baroncm JiurdcU VotUln will, im 
ing into yodowisWosoTsS 
and closely set, more so Smu 
variety wo are familiar with. 
Sea Foam, nearly pure white, prob..., 
Pest white variety. tlij 
Jfricainc, of very peculiar slaty-hrow 
with white throat. 
leancler, very large flowers, dee 
shading into lilac, large, white throat 
Camelion, flowers very large, of p . ' 
grayish, lilac color, with creain.p®!'^**' 
throat. 
Balila, deep, cherry-rose, large. 
Lesseps, immense spikes, rose. deo.. 
mine striped. ^ 
The Blonde, an entirely new shade of h 
and salmon pink, almost blonde. 
Aurora, a very large compact spike, ay 
peculiar salmon-rose shaded orange and wv7 
striped. 
Corime, amaranth, shading to cherry 
Flamboyant, brilliant, flame red. 
To name all the older and better know 
kinds would far exceed the space at our 
disposal. Among the hardy species and 
varieties were: 
G. purpureo-auraius, Froebeli, Lemoinii, car. 
dinalis, John Thorp, and many others. The 
last named is remarkable for its regular 
shape. Although Gladioluses were the leading 
feature of the exhibition, the fine collections 
of Lilies, Tigridias, Dahlias, Phloxes, mag¬ 
nificent specimens of Ilyacinthns candicam 
Futalia sebrina were not less attractive and 
admired by the many hundreds of visitors. 
The beneficial influence of such exhibitions 
cannot be overestimated, and it is to be 
hoped that our seedsmen and florists will find 
it to their advantage to hold similar special 
exhibitions of the leading classes of flowers. 
NEIGHBORHOOD EXHIBITIONS. 
Not far from this place, in an enterprising 
little village, the plan has been conceived of 
holding, at stated times, an exhibition of 
fruits, plants, and flowers by the young 
people. Small premiums are awarded to 
successful competitors, and a real genuine 
interest in the e.xhibitions is manifested. If 
a sufficient number of villages could be 
united in such a plan, and once a year have 
a general e.xhibit, good results could notfail 
to accrue. 
By this means a love for flowers and their 
cultivation is established; and how rapidly 
this love grows when one is every day w® 
them, watching and oaring for them! It is a 
good thing to train young minds in tho love 
of nature. 
Moreover, by such exhibitions, where all 
the plants and fruits are carefully labeled, it 
makes it ooinparatively easy for our bo)’S 
and girks to familiarize themselves with the 
correct names of tho same. How many 
children (I will not say adults) can disti'i' 
guish by their mimes a tenth part of ti'® 
difforout varieties of Strawberries, ChorricSi 
Pears, or Apples, and likewise tho viiri®' 
flowers about them in tho fields, or, niayhaPi 
in their gardens f To fasten those names in 
dolibly upon the raomovy would bo one o 
.ioct of those exhibitions, 'riien wo show 
soon see a change about many a now 
uiint' 
tractive yard, and in place of barren 
nnfriiitful grounds wo might hope- to so® 
flowers blooming and fruits growing) 
with them an unconsoious love in our o\ 
I'oarts tor tho beautiful in nature, oxpan<h®8 
day .by day. 
' J.W. Dabbo'^’ 
