The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-08-18
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Gardening at Large.

We do not subscribe toA the creed of those
persons who make utiiitarianism III asficuI-
ture and its related branches, their chief or
some noble monarch cf the forest standing
alone in all its glory, perhaps u mountain
pine, which, in all its rugged majesty, has with
stood the storms and tempests of centuries,
whose very presence lifts us up almost uncon-
sciously to the level of its own loftiness, and
fills us with the inspiration of the pure air it
breathes, we regard it as an unjust:fable
assault upon our better selves, when some
outside barbarian with his unciyiliZel compu-
tations, suggests that that tree would make
ship of a thousand tons. 50, likewise, when,
standing beneath the shade of magnificent
elm or maple, whose sheltering arms are ex-
tended in silent benedictions over house and
lawn, we hear some one of Hooks descend
ants hoarsely bawling, 'cords of good fire.
wood wasted here" we find that it requires
more violent effort than we care to make, to
refrain from shifting the ruffian to tie earth,
as one who impers the integrity Of both soul
and body--an enemy of the human race.
Even from purely agricultural point of view
and with eyes wide open on the profit, we do
not favor bringing down the bird of Joye to
the feathery association of the barn-yard, nor
in agriculture, or out it, do we propose to
aid in enslaving the graces and glories in the
service of greedy gain.
Having thus, we trust, satisfactorily estab-
lished our soundness on this most essential
article Of faith, let us proceed to see whether
there are any neglected opportunities lying
along roads with which we are familiar,
whether some real good may not be evolved
from our possessions, which now are only pro-
ductive of evil. We conceive that benevo-
lence and selfishness are not by any means
confined to the giving and Withholding the
current coin Of the realm; much of both
is exemplified, for instance, in the prac-
tice of those wh) have and hold large
collections of works OF art, galleries of
sculpture or paintings, or libraries filled
with rare and valuable books. How
many hungry souls may be famished or fed
in the vicinity of such abundance, just as it
suits the whim of the lordly owner! So have
we seen men hide by high walls their treas
ures of fruit and flowers from the sight Of
the passer-by, denying to the longing eye
that which, instead of being taken from them,
should have added to that possession which
only those who give, receive.
Blessings, say we, on the man who plants
shade trees along the dusty way, or opens the
hidden spring where the weary traveller may
slake his thirst, or, on the margin of some
public road, carefully lifts the sod and depos-
its some rare seed within, with the silent
prayer that it may spring up and bear fruit ot
which others may paitake hereafter. 1t may
afford Indictment and encouragement to us
all, to remember that thus from some un
known source or else from chance, have
| originated many we'll known fruits, as the
Baldwin apple, the Goodale pear, and th'
Rebecca grape.
Swiit's oft-quoted saying, that he is ben
| efactor of his race who causes two blades o
! grass to grow where but one grew before
needs constant repetition, and especially, tina
men may be induced to attempt the small be
| ginnings of progress and improvement, whiel
| they are continually neglecting, while wait
ing for magnificent opportunities.
| With the wide extent Of land in our ma
tional domain, we shall not see for man!
years any approach to the economic law
now in force, and the utilization OF ever.
| tot or so;l which rrevails in China SWitz
erland and some other countries Of the Oh
world. To the dwellers in toGn and city
however, it may not be too early to suggest
beginning of the work.
| Our object in the present article is to pro
pose to those who love their fellow-men, t
those real reformers who do not rest content
edly in distractions and glittering general
ties, but are realty for every good work, tha
they begin to advocate the conuerting int