Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-07-27
Culture of Rural Taste.

Did it ever occur to you, kind rea-
der, how much lies in your power to
allay the unhealthy desire so largely
prevailing among our people for emf
grating to new regions, new scenes,
ETC.? If not, will you at once look
around you a n d see wheather, by
making your home more attractive,
you cannot do something towards cul-
tivating an attachment to home scenes
and home associations %? Make your
dwelling and its surroundings more
attractive. Let habits of system, or
der, and neatness be formed where
not already in practice to their full
extent. Snrroundyour dwellings with
flowers. shrubs, and trees, tastefully
arranged, and selected with reference
to harmony and contrast. Their
beauty and perfume will attract the
eye and regale the senses, and serve
to recall the mind Of the tired and
weary from dwelling upon self. Beau
tify and adorn the inside Of your
dwelling with ornam ents, such
as will at once attract the eye and
serve to educate the taste and the
mind. IT'S to the young or rising
generation that we must look to sup
ply the places Of the fail ers and
mothers of the present, and to their
education we should add the influence
of refining and agreeable associations,
such as will serve to create love
and attachment to the home of child
hoods years.
Rural life may be made more at
tractive by properly instilling into
their minds the idea that the culture
of the soil is elevating in its tendencies.
In the words of the father ofhis country,
agriculture is the most healthful,
most useful, and most honorable en-
ployment of man." Children brought
up under the influence Of an atmos-
phere Of such surroundings and teach
ings will be likely in after years tolook
back upon that home as the brightest
gem among their treasured child
hoods memories; like star shining
pure and bright above earthly strife,
pointing to a better land.
Let it not be the aim to cultivate
the ornamental to the exclusion of the
useful-such as the larger as well as
small fruits, ETC., but let each have its
appropriate share Of attention. There
is beauty and instruction to be ad-
mired and gained in the growth and
production of the useful, as well as in
the ornamental only. Teach the
young what lies hidden from the eye ;
interest them in cause and effect ;
teach them to study into what lies
hidden in the seed of any single
plant; the study into the way in
which it produces its like will inter
est and at the same time expand the
mind. Teach them that the seed
contains the future plant in embryo
and that in order to produce the plants
certain prerequisites are necessary
that those prerequisites are good soil
air, moisture, etc. that the seed must
be deposited in this soil, and before
growing the soil must be suitably
warmed-that first the seed is start
ed into life by the action of the heat
air and moisture in the soil-that il
sends out little stem, one part O
which descends into the ground; this
is called the radicLe; the other par
ascends, seeking the light and air, thu
first part of which is known to botan
lists as cotyledons-these enclose ;
bud which soon makes its appearance
containing the leaves soon to follow
this bud is called the pIumule. Thi
is the case with some kinds; other
are somewhat differently constructed
1t is also well to know that the seeC
contains the necessary albumen, o
food, to sustain the p liant in tn
first stage of its growth, till its root
take hold in the soil and taerefron
draw a supply. These and man,
other facts are better observed an,
learned by our rural population thai
by the denizens of a populous city
the former having the advantage c
daily and constant observation.
F. e w. Fl. WHITE.
South WlndSor Conn.,, 1866