AMATEUR GARDEN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1039, 17 March 1882, Page 4

AMATEUR GARDEN.

The taste for gardening is wijl worthy of cultivating amom'st'pi eph'of a'l ag-m, sexes, and conditimiM The pursuit, wl’-uTollowe I from no other motive than the quire love rtf plants mid flowers, exorcises an iiKluonce for good, though perhaps nnndticed yet. none he less powerful, upon the moral and social well-being and character of its devote. s in whatever order of society their lot may he cast. ‘Lord Beacon considered a garden “ the purest of human pleasures—the greatest refreshment to the mind of. man ” While it has been observed by all the travelled and'keenest critics of human, character that those who have been endowed with a love for flowers and the culture of gardens, in whatever rank or country they may he placed, are always found to compare favourably with'their fellows not so endowed, in all that is desirable in character they are more amiable,’kind, lovable, and me desirable as friends or. companions. AVi liam Temple, a great traveller and observer, declared that an unkind up vicious person could not possibly he the possessor of a love for gardening. The culture of plants, moreover, is a privilege, a recreation and a luxury, which is quite as much within the reieh of the humblest cottager as it is within that of the wealthiest in the land. Indeed it hardly admits of doubt that the former draws from it an infinitely larger amount of enjoyment and benefit, than, umler the most'favourable circumstances, is possible with the latter. . The one with ample means and expensive appliances cannot experience that feeling of affectionate solicitude, that delighted and charmed gratification, which distinguishes the ardent lover of 'floriculture from all other-classes. Air Ample Means may possess and admire ■perhaps glory in, rare costly plants and garden furniture, .quite bevoud the

most ambitious dreams of Mr Small Means, Ills neighbour, but the latter can ' both possess and admire, and also love devotedly some of the most beautiful flowers in creation, and with the gratifying satisfaction that thov are of his own 'production. the result of his tender earn and ■ nursing- -Ida own creation. Ho has, it may be, and it is often so, cared for cherished and protected the seed even before it was formed in the ovary—in fact, performed the marriage arrangements between its parents ! lie has tenderly watched, protected, and aided its developemmt until tbe full and ripened maturement had been effected He committed, at the proper season and in the proper soil,' the perfect seed to the earth, ' watched night and day, and patiently waited one, two or more years for the result —a new creation. Here is a beautiful lesson for the young. Tlio child to whom a seed of some favourite flowcr is given, with directions for sowing and management, and who is-encouraged' to attend to it as his very own,’ is powerfully influenced for good. All t. e virtues are brought into play in the very act of sowing the seed, and has to ho continually exercised until rewarded by the beautiful climax. Love, pirience, and all the virtues, are continually at work ■ during the growth of the child’s pet, and ■above all these virtues—all the solicitous c ire, the tender ■nursing, watching against enemies, as insects, drought,-wet, &c., &c., is richly rewarded. No teaching like this, none so deeply rooting, none so enduring. ’•Wc-sa-y, then, to parents encourage your little children to cultivate a taste for this beautilul and spiritualizing pursuit. Furnish your dearest little prattling toddler with as ed and a place to sow it, if it be but a tin can ora little box of soil. Let it be a seed or a, bulb that will soon reward his are by developing quickly, so that his 1 atienee be-not tried too much till he gains iiiore-exper once. Uo not think this too trivial a matter to notice. A simple •bean, lupin or any other seed mav p ove to he the root, origin, or genn of worthiness of character in the man who but for it may have proved to be a reprobate. By all means cultivate and encourage a taste for gardening amongst peoule of all ages and conditions.

Lap me in soft Lydian airs, Married to immortal verse. —Milton,