, 1876-04-08
Horticulture for Farmers.

valent among farmers, that leads them tC
feel, and also say, that the land devoted t
the culture OF flowers Is absolutely wasted, u,
is also the time spent in cultivating and car
ing for them. This evidently is a result oi
q want of consideration and Of prejudice I'M
bibed IN early life, and not of intelligent op-
position to Horticulture. The first settlers in
any locality are compelled by force Of eireum.
stances, to direct every effort TO the produc-
tiOn of such crops as Will make cash returns,
however small Hence habits are forced
upon them, and by them instillea in:o their
children, entirely antagonistic to expenditure
of labor, land or money, in anything which
will make no corresponding money return
The need for this sort of economy has gone
by, At least in all the older settled portions
of the country. Markets for every possible
product of the farm are now within reach of
nearly all, and the thoroughly good farmer
can always get prompt returns for labor aud
capital. Instead of planting every available
rod of his farm in marketable farm products,
the tendency now is to work less land and
work it better, to make two blades of grass
grow where only one grew before.
There is therefore no excuse for depriving
the wife and children, or even the farmer
himself, Of the use Of small, suitable plat Of
ground, to be planted in flowers for the pur-
pose of ornamentation Of the house and the
grounds around the house. The love of or
nament Is Inherent in nearly all persons, and
requires reasonable qualification. II culti
vator, or Il Wagon-bOX is needed. ninety mine
farmers out Of every one hundred would buy
the one that was striped and ornamented
when painted, rather than one which was
painted only one cOlor. The same proportion
will feel the difference ieven if they do not
perceive the cause, when entering neigh
bor's house, between living room with a
few flowers ON the table OF On the mantel,
and one which Is entirely bare of flowers
The ssme feeling Of baroness is impressed on
every one passing house which has no flow
ers OF shrubs around it.
At this day there IL 10 excuse for the alb
sence of flowers in and around the home Of
every one. 1t takes d very small outlay for
seeds to make brilliant and lasting show.
Seed stores are within the reach of every one
who can write, and their proprietors are
always ready to deliver at the door of the
party ordering, seeds OF almost every plant
that grows. \ few shiiliugs Will buy all
the seeds needed for any family. The labor
OF cultivation is not more than equal TO a
half-days work of an ordinary farm hand.
There Is, in effect, no time lost in the culti-
VatiOn of flowers on most FARMS even when
there are plenty 10 graIliy The eye and per
fume the house The work can be and Is all
done at odd moments The outlay for seeds
is insignificant, in many cases costing nothing
except the labor Of saving, and the returns
are very large IN real qualification OF an un-
conscious aesthetic taste, and home made
attractive 10 lis inmates and 10 every one
who may chance to come III. There Is no
class having more facilities, both OF time
snl convent noes, for flower culture than
farmers. and it is only necessary for them to
reflect on the subject for a moment, to enable
them to comprehend the need of flower eul-
ture. not only for the purpose of gratifying
the aesihetic tastes Of the family, but as one
important means of making the home so at
,rac,ive TO the boys that the tendency to
leave the farm for other pursuits may IN a
great measure be counteracted.- Country Gen
GeDsGI.