The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1858-08-07
Amatsur eardsnlng-A word for the Ladies',

LADIES are great gardeners on q small scale
and j vast majority Of the homes which are
made more cheerful and elegant BY flowers,
owe The charm to their hands. They generally
love flowers for their own sake. and their At
tachment is less mingled. than that Of men with
considerations Of interest, such as beating their
neighbors in their feats Of horticultural skill, Or
adding a,respectable adjunct to their domain.
A woman looks upon > flower as she does up
on a child, with an affection distracted from
external considerations Of what trouble II will
occasion. or what il will cost to keep. And
as her principles are more pure in the, depart.
ment of gardening and its ends's other pleasures
are more simple and deep. As a rule, ladies
are less alert to The technical characteristics Of
good flowers than their lords are they see the
natural beauties, and are satisfied with them;
and we believe that a great part OF the plants
that composed the Flora of our grandfathers,
keep themselves from utter extinction in the
present. age by the patronage Of woman. Such
Is the direct influence of the fair sex OH garden.
ing and flowers but there Is also q powerful
Indirect one. Many men have pretty gardens
to please their wives and daughters, who, did
they live alone, would give themselves no trou
bic about them. The nursery in the neighbor-
hood is visited TO buy some new plant, or the
florists shops in London receive some support,
not because The gentleman really cares about
such things himself, but because he knows how
much more he shall be welcomed ON his return
home, If he bears in his had a bouquet, ora pot
with some fine flower in bloom.
But it is not always that ladies' find sucl
conductors IN their husbands or brothers Gnite
as often they pursue Horticulture under Difficult.
ties" not the least being an indisposition to
favor their tastes on the part of those strong
minded relatives. john cannot be spared for
the garden, because d new horse has to be ex-
ercised' or the eSigencies Of the hay crop make
it imperative that the weeds should have a long
holiday to get rampant in. Further, to give
halt.a-cfown for d plant is a stretch Of eytrava-
gauce not TO be passed over without a rebuke ::
and 10 spend an hour every morning in the
greenhouse is construed to mean that the house.
hold is neglected. All husbands who take no
interest ~ gardening do not go to this extent
Of clurlishness, for some are enntented with OK
hibiing a passive Indifference, not blaming.
and yet not easing the labors Of their fair parS-
ners by a word Of encouragement or much less
BY any tightening Of their labors. The wife,
on a fine june morning, is watering and trans.
planting, and anXiously training up to perfec.
ton some floral beauties, and a little help In
stopping or carrying mould would then be a
great boon. But the husband looks l~jstlessly
on, and does nothing-or rather, as is too often
the case, he grulnbles at the time and labor BE-.
slowed and in his careless RECOMMENDATIONS sets
hs ,oot on the choicest pet Of the neatly-kept
border. But
Sigh no more ladies, sigh no more.s
Tor yoa have resources in yourselves in this de.
partment which will easily make you indepeud.
ent OF all but labors of love, and conteuted n
be without aid grudgingly bestowed. We wish
You very earnestly much Of the. cooperation Won
need, and the sympathy which you SO highiy
value yet, il You are compelled to be independ-
eht, do not complain, but rather be stimulated
to new exertions., You must contract The
sphere OF your labors, concentrate your ener.
gles on fewer objects, and be contented to rnl.
tvate a few things well, just in proportion as
the work IS to be all your own. .sArminda"
y a gardner OF this class. She fnds little %atini-
y IN her liege lord with her taste for well-kent
lawns and pretty Aower-beds his talk beiru
OF ballocks. and his predictions exclnsivelv
on short hoFns,' and the last yar,ety
Of sweeds or nlangel wurzel. If she reanires =
man for a days work il the garden, he comes
indeed, al length, but not until the lawn in siy
inches high Of grass, and the walks beaotifnllv
iertilelw'th weeds, Yet by perseverance She
manages to have plenty of nice flowers, both
out. Of doors mud in the sitting room. Har
duties are lighiened by the nnre
derived from natural objects. and she
grat'lles o woman passion for what is innocent.
y beautiful, by bringing to perfection MANY good
flowefs, Were Arminda to give IN her ,,ar'
DELL her husband would not. heaye a siob lint
IT Is certain that much of the pleasure of her
own life would have fed Gardeners Ghroni
~ onr'ni