Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-12-26
In THE BUSHES, 1856.

In THE BUSHES, 1856.
Some years ago, Mr.. Downing
was so good as to print a few
letters Of mine in the @Horticult-
urist,' which gives me courage
to inflict upon you and your rea-
ders a little gossip, and see if
you too will be amiable. I think
it is a good plan to have recipes
in your paper, andI return thanks
hereby to several matrons who
have enlightened me, though I'm
apt to think, sometimes, that I
know all about housekeeping
But might | suggest that a reci-
pc is better for being complete,
and that when / want to make a
pudding, it might be convenient
to know how much flour is added
to the
Sugar aud spice,
And all that's nice"
because it might not succeed, II
left to my discretion. And, if
somebody tells me to cast on sew
enteen stitches, and then directs
only how to knit thirteen Of them,
what, in the name of common
sense, / ask becomes ofthe other
four?
Perhaps Mr.. (dear me!
/ almost spoke in meeting!")
will suggest that ladies are not
apt to be practical. but, begging
his pardon, / think they are capa-
bic Of it; and is not a little hint
to that effect excusable? For
my part, | think it is horticultural
gentlemen who are apt TO theo-
rize. Let me tell you a brief
story that hangs thereby.
A certain person Of my ac-
quaintance met me one day, with
a triumphant air,
81 have got it at last, w.
Here it isl"
"What?' said I, breathless with
curiosity.
ooh! THE DIscoREA BATATAs!
(Do set that in large letters, t.
express the toneI
Angels and ministers Of grace
What upon earth is that?' asked
innocent ], supposing it to be NJ
less than a Mexican mummy, OF
a three-tailed Javanese pig, o.
may be some persian utensil from
a hole in The ground out East.
why, my dear, the new yam!
"New ham?' said !, a little
doubtful, and crest fallen.
"Yam!-yaml-don't you rec
ollect?-the vegetable that w
hope will supercede the potat'
grows to an immense size-i
common food for the Chinese
produces great crops-no troub
lie in cultivation-noury nutri
tious esculent.
What could | say but 'hem?'
So, with all honors, the smal
tuber was planted in a bed, dug
MANFRED, and raked, as if it ha
been a hot-bed for exotics. On
trouble to cultivateD Long di
man and maid watch the bed, W
roofing intrusivepurslance, quic
pigweed, pepper:pot, and WITCH
grass; till one day, the mastt
shouts over the lawn
ats up! it's upp
/ started-did he mean the P,
terton Tomnoddy stocks? l b.
gan to hope.
MY dear W, the Bat
la Discorea is up
Had / been a man, with the pl
vileges Of the sex. ] should ha,
said--well, never mind, l
suspend, what l didn't remark
/ DID say, "Oh!" and like a vel
lamb, spoiled my new slippe
going out to see the arrival
the welcome little stranger. Ty
leavesl Positively two! bu
"Great oaks &c, you know
(How pleasing is the effect Of m
raj copy books in after lifeD
This adage aided my philos
ply to wait for Summer. A
that long and lovely Summer
Dewy mornings, radiant wi
bloom and odor; tranquil moor
when the hot air quivered in I
sunlight, and the cool white Iii
dropping in uufeigned langut
evenings flushed at sunset wi
rose. red and gold, or dark wi
lurid clouds, whose peafly to]
rounded and opalescent, agai
the blue depths Of heaven. Y
morning, noon and night did o
adorer wait upon the mandar
chronicle its growth, trickle a
tie water upon its root, cover a
uncover it, mulch and demu,
it. Excuse the word--I was
bliged to make it.) And it cal
to pass that 1t grew: but wo