The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-08-18
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F-OPN'i'i0H 'ae, tuat thefeDy the lace OF nature
VIII DC improved, and that positive benefits
VIII accrue to all persons connected with
either side of the transaction. If, for illus
tratlon, we refer TO our own city. we notice
more or less unseemy scars and burrows with
which our streets or borders are delormed,
oceasioned by fire, or excavation, or some
disturbing cause; and in many places we can
hardly fail TO notice how persistently and sue
cessiully and with what amiabe rivalry the
burdock and plantain aud thistle strive TO
hide some of these misfortunes and mistakes
Of men.
Now we're we to imagine some of those
huge chasms which railroad necessities have
created, whose loose and crumbling banks
alike threaten danger, and invite mischief to
be sloped and sodded and made green with
the emerald luxuriance which adosns our
harbor forts, and the rank growth of noxious
weeds and hateful plants to be suppIanted by
some Of the smaller fruits, or garden eseu
Tents, or healthful herbs of the nurservman
and horticulturist, and where foul and moi
some Vapors load the air, were flowers plant
ed to distil out ofdecay and pollution, beauty
and periume-would such an effort be too
great tor the Imagination, or the actual ae-
complishment, too much for the hands of
women and children even?
Every square foot OF earth that is rich
enough to produce some rank and vigorous
weed, which is worse than worthless, can
just q well and with no more expense sus-
tain some garden plant which win bear GOOD
fruet; and in addition to this, these simple
changes in vegetable life, as well as the in
PRODUCTION Of new plants into unhealthy To-
callties, will often prove to be the methods by
which the most important sanitary ends are
secured.
That vice and wretchedness are often cured
by reproof and denunciation, we are not in
ciined to believe, anG therefore we prefer to
make the attempt, by affording opportuni.
ties for comparison and contrast; by inciden-
tai exhibitions of something brighter aud bet
Ter. We do not readily get man out of a
slough, by telling him that he is there, that
he well knows; Or by asking him to look
about him,-that he has already done; but
when we show him good footing on dry land.
then he inclines to try it. The neglect of
this idea explains frequent failures in at.
tempts at reform, in both temperance and re-
ligion.
a recent exhibition was held in London.
by the Society for the Encouragement of Win
dow-Gardening among the poor Of the par
ishes st. Mary and st. John, Westminster.
at which the Earl of Shaftesbury, the Baron
ess Rothschild and many distinguished per-
sons were present, giving encouragement by
Their words of praise and by their substantial
benevolenee. Prizes were awarded to the
working men and women of those districts.
and the children of the schools, for the best
display Of plants and flowers, ornamental de.
signs, and plans Tor floral decorations with
growing plants, The entire district has been
greatly 6eautified and improved in every way
by the encouragement of taste for flowers
among the residents. Many ne@ varieties
are said TO have been introduced by working
men, who have thus become interested in
Horticulture.
The sending of nose or lily into some low
hoyel, or haunt of wretchedness, may be as
the ushesing of light into darkness; and
where the Bible or the missionary conld find
no entrance, these silent messengers would
be welcomed, and would exert potent infiu-
ence in reforming many of the evil conditions
Of soul and body.
Our present limits forbid entering into the
details OF any plan. Whose consent, or pat
ronage, or assistance are to be secured, and
what theIDlan of operations shall be, we do
advise. As we do not despise the day of
small things, we recommend humble begin
nings, and are quite sure that any earnest
soul in any suitable place, can do much good
by introducing horticulture and Horticulture
into the yards and windows of depraved dis
tricts; by encouraging the cultivation of
wholesome vegetables and medicinal plants
by and for the poor; by raising flowers fer
hospitals, asylums, alms-houses and peniten-
tiaries aud for the sick in body and soul
anywhere.
Should these hints ever find adequate
we may expect as resulting bene-
fits: the substitution of inexpensive public
gardens Of sm all extent, for single one with
broad acres involving large expenditure
the gradual smoothing away of wrinkles and
in the face of nature-the bring
ing together on common ground, those who
give and those who receive, thus aiding in
in perfe e.ting that higher husbandry Of the
heart, by which our poor humanity is grated
on the living vine, and enabled to bring forth
immortal fruit.