Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-21
The Growth Of Flowers .

In his address at the Queens County Ag-
ricultural Fair at Flushing Mr.. Richard @.
Mccormick spoke thus of the cultivation Of
flowers;
ttNot less profound than has ever been my
admiration of the trees which so richly Or
nament and shade this favored village is
my appreciation of the beautiful flowers
which at all seasons decorate its graceful
gardens and greenhouses, and which to-
day form so attractive feature in the
superb variety of natures wonderful works
gathered beneath this capacious tent. Ex-
amining each peculiar tint and inhaling
each exquisite fragrance of these dainty
creations of sunshine and Of shower, have
experienced a feeling similar to that which
excited Linneus, who, when he first saw
the English Downs all afame with the
golden flowers of the furze, knelt down and
thanked God for having made any thing so
beautiful. The varied splendor Of the how-
ers, who shall describe it2 They toll not,
they spin not; and yet ] say unto you, that
Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed
| like one of these
"That sturdy British reformer, Goblet,
who was more successful in agriculture
than in politics. while resident in North
| Hampstead, in this county, in the early
part of the present century used his ready
| pen in simple but masterly exposition of
the requirements of practical husbandry.
| His voluminous writings cluster with COM
mon sense, and radical Quixotic senti-
ment here and there may be pardoned in
| view of the many valuable hints and sug-
| gestions, the result of an unusual expert
ence and peculiar powers Of observation,
with which his works on rural subjects are
replete. From his passionate fondness of
the grosser vegetables especially the Ruta
Baga turnip, which he first introduced in
America and cultivated with great success,
it might be supposed that he had no better
| appreciation Of flowers than had Words
| worths stole, Peter Bell But not so In
| his American Gardener which may be
read at the present time to advantage, he
| rebukes those VINO think that flowers are
of no use, and exclaims, 'For my part as
a thing to keep and not to sell, as thing
the possession of which is to give me pleas
| ure, | hesitate not q moment to prefer the
plant of fine carnation to gold watch set
with diamonds
"In this light l wonder that every farm
| has not its flower garden, however small
In its perfection it is, of course unattain-
able without great care and expense; but a
single dollar year, judiciously laid out in
seeds and bulbs, will from one tiny plant,
| yield, from the first crocus to the last
chrysanthemum, perpetual joy. 1t is, in
deed, passing strange that there is not q
more general enthusiasm in the cultivation
of flowers. 1t has been said that they are
the alphabet of angels, wherewith they
write on hills and plains the mysterious
truths. Certain it is that they are ever sug-
! gestive Of the pure and holy, and ennobling
to those who live in their gentle presence.
"Lafayette, visiting the mother of Wash
ington at Fredericksburg, found her busily
engaged in wedding her flower garden, and
the incident suggests that the fair sex car
find no more wholesome pastime than thai
given TO Horticulture. They may do much
in the training of the rose to brighten theil
own cheeks with its blushing hues, and il
the sweet air of the garden find an invigo
ration which no other source can provide
Our maidens should, at this time, tend thei
gardens with the fondest care, for when theil
lovers who have gone to the war for thu
Union and Constitution shall have redeemed
the dear old flag from the disgrace which
heartless traitors and rebels would heal
upon it, and return to their gentle embrace
covered with the glory and dust of battle
will they not merit garlands choicer thar
ever graced the brows of Roman victors OIL
adorned Grecian heroes flushed with tht
triumph Of their classic arms p