Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-04-30
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Ornamental Gardening.

hopo that no one will let the springtimo
pass without dong something to make their
home more pleasant and attractive. Neg
lect TO do this from year to year and. sooner
than you expect, it will have n dreary, conf
fortress look that yon cannot account for.
Do this and in the same time your home
may DO made beautiful.
A house that protects ones body from sun
and rain is not sufficient; ones soul needs
greater protection from the temptations that
daily beset,and rest from the tolls and ankle
tlesoi life. have somewhere read that'pleas-
ant surroundings and agreeable occupation
are as necessary to the development of a
cheerful, hopeful disposition, as food and
clothing for the body" and 1 firmly believe
this. morning glory training up the decay
ed post Of an old piazza, vine trained over
Il window, or even rose bush under IL, ele-
vate the owners thoughts for one moment,
at least, and make him forget worldly strifes
and vices. No matter how homely, they are
the index of germ of refinement in some
person, of love in the heart that needs cult
walton. No home is complete without the
little yard in front nicely kept, and who can
pass house, let it be ever so nice, with no
beautiful trees or yard in front, and not feel
that something is wrong with the people who
live thereP
On the other hand, it is pleasing sight to
pass low, weather beaten cottage, the home
of some poor man. and note the clean, home
like appearance of everything about it; the
yard filled with trees and the old-fashioned
shrubs and flowers seem inviting you to call,
and you feel sure Of being welcomed, wheth-
err friend or stranger to the inmates.
Give me such home as this, rather than
palace with no trees or flowers, unless
can be permitted to plant them myself The
mind once awakened to the beauty and
grandeur OF nature can never slumber again,
but must keep searching, and thus soaring
| from nature to natures God. Nothing will
serve toawaken so effectually the slumbering
| faculties as the care of something pro-
duced by nature. Give child some plant
to care for, and he will soon know much
about it, partly from observing it, and partly
| from the inquiries that his discovery called
forth. The knowledge thus gained will lead
TO further investigation, and thus a plant
may form the foundation of many useful les
sons, by leading the child to observe things
closely.
| | have known young men and women who
have always lived on farm, and who spent
much time fishing, berrying, ETC., to express
contempt for flowers, and seem TO really
take pride in saying that they did not know
II pansy from geranium! You will find no
nice yards in front of their homes and should
you enter will find nothing ornamental in
side, but if in childhood they had been given
yard to care for, and their minds had been
awakened to the beauties of nature, would
they entertain such unpleasant ideasP think
not, and | believe it TO be the duty of every
farmer to enclose at least one-eighth of an
acre for the children to cultivate and beauti-
fy They should receive much advice and
some assistance, at first, but 1t will be repaid
tenfold in few years, not only through the
bright, healthful faces of the children, but
the enjoyment you derive from it, and the
caroworn looks and wrinkles driven away
by it, should be sufficient reward.
EDITH IVES.
This correspondent evidently CLOCKS from
nature up to natures Cod" and enjoys the
beauties of this glorious earth. If her writ
ings las we believe they wilD draw any soul
nearer to the Author of all beauty, and en-
able il to feel more OF that divine enjoyment
and contentment, and that gratitude to the
Gver of all, they will have drawn soul
nearer heaven, thus rendering God service
by making his creatures happier