Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-01
LOCAL ENTEaEsGENuE,


wholesome: windows into which the sun can
snine cheeriiy' few good books land who need
be without few good books in these days of uni
versal cheapness!) no duns at the door and cup
board we'll supplied, and with a flower in your
room.-and there is none so poor as not to have
about him the elements of pleasure Thus writes
Eliza Cook one of the most gifted and charming
women of the age.
In this country, where every industrious and
frugal citizen may acquire homestead-in some
favoured sections of which, indeed, ne may obtain
itwithout money and without price-we have suf
acknowledgements to adorn and beautify our homes
How can this be more appropriately accomplished
than by planting wholesome ornamental tees and
| cutlvating flowers! "Most people," it has been
weland truly remarked, ''have yet to learn the
true enjoyment life. 1t is not in costly apparel
orlarge houses or elegant furniture OF rich wines
or gay parties, that the true happiness OF homo
consists. These things may be purchased by
money; but there exist pleasures of higher and
hoer sort, which money cannot purchase. It's the
heart, the taste, the intellect which determine
the happiness of men, and lend to home all its real
endearments. These things cannot be bought;
|
then, be he ever so humble or exalted, strive to
render his home attractive, not alone by the prac
| tlce OF those cardinal virtues-Humility and
Charity-but by adjoining it with those beautiful
gifts OF Nature, SO beautifully scattered around
HIM. Let him so beautify it as to render it-what
indeed every mans home should be-the
most attractive place to him on earth. He will
then, whilst encountering the heat and burthen
ofthe day. be enlivened by the reflection that the
hour is on the wing when he may be permitted
TO retire to his own peaceful and pleasant home,
there to find relaxation and rest.
Richmond has been styled the "City of Gar
dens'-and whilst the stranger in passing through
portions of it, is struck with the taste and refine
ment displayed by many citizens, in the cultiva-
ton of their grounds yet the passion for flowers
and shrubs is not as generally dffused as we could
desire. Every dwelling house, no matter how
ever humble, ought to be provided with flowers
Ii the dwelling fronts the street, place flowers in
the windows. "a flower in your window" saws
Eliza Cook, 'sweetens the air, makes your room
look graceful, gives the suns light new charm,
reJo1ces your eye, and links you to nature and
beauty. You really cannot be altogether alone,
Hyou have a sweet flower to look upon, and it is
companion which will never utter cross thing
to anybody, but always look beautiful and smiling
Do not despise it because it is cheap, and every
body may have the luxury well as you. Com
mon things are cheap, and common things are in
variably the most valuable. Could we only have
fresh air or sunshine by purchase, what Injuries
they would be; but they free to all, and we
mt of boir P,,t IL
exists no occasion to cultivate the common varie-
ties OF flowers here. We have in the city, or on
It's envirous, no less than four large nurseries,
where the rarest Towering shrubs and the most
choice exotics, can be procured at comparative
y cheap rate Moreover, every spring beautiful
collections from abroad are disposed of at public
auction All, then, who possess taste for flowers,
can freely indulge it, and at inconsiderable ex-
pense.
AS before remarked, many parks and gardens
in this city afford gratifying evidence of taste apd
refinement. We have observed, too, an increased
demand for flowers and shrubbery on the part of
the citizens generally. Let this taste for flowers
be cultivated-especialyb by the ladies'. ''The
most delightful employment for ladies'" says a
writer in the Philadelphia Inquirer .'is the cul-
ture Of flowers. The general superintendent
OF garden is generally found favorable to health,
by lending to frequent exercise in the open air,
and that communing with nature which is equal
ly refreshing to the heart The tending Of flow
ers has ever appeared fitting care for the young
and beautiful They then dwell, as it were,
among their own emblems, and many veice of
wisdom breathes the ear from those sweet
to, ol, +I,o
the sunbeam" As an evidence of the increased
taste for flowers in this city, we may remark that
whilst greater attention is paid to the cultivation
OF the ordinary varieties, on all sides, rare and
costly exotics are beginning to make their appear
ance in the grounds of the opulent, and in few
years we may be blessed with an upper ia
ponicadom" even in Richmond. Well, be it So
The cultivation of exotics certainly affords
evidence of refined taste as we'll as of liberal
means; and that individual may be regarded as
foolishly captous who find fault with dis
play at once chaste and beautiful
Strolling over the western environ. of the city
short time since, attention was arrested by
rare display of beautiful shrubs and flowers in the
nursery of MIR E. q. Eggeling, situated short dis
lance west of Richmond College. At the polite in
vtation OF the proprietor we entered the grounds,
walked through his nursery, and have rare
ly enjoyed richer treat. His collection of roses,
evergreens, dollhouse plants, and fruit and orna-
mental trees, appeared to comprise almost every
variety, whilst his skill ii budding, grating, &C.,
and in the general management of his nursery,
manifested itself on every side in the vigor and
perfection of his plants and flowers Beside.
possessing thorough knowledge of his business,
Mr. E. is likewise well acquainted with the prin-
ciples of landscape gardening, and evidences of
his skill and taste, he pointed to many lawns and