Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-03
NO. 1870.
Misefllaneoms.
A GARDEN.

Every man, however limited his means,
should contrive to have and cultivate a
garden. There are three strong reasons
for 1t:
|. Working in garden is highly con-
ducive to health. The exercise is gentle
ii is united with amusement, and by it
both the body and the spirits are invigor-
ated. There is something in the odor of
The earth that strengthens the whole sys-
TEN.
Let the sedentary man take up the
pruning knife and spend an hour of the
dewy morning amongst his vines, or the
spade. hoe or rake and prepare or work
over his asparagus, lettuce or radsh beds.
and he will thus give tone and vigor to
his body and his mind for the severe
studies of his desk. The teacher will
teach all the better and the minister will
preach all the better tor the mind exer-
else which the garden gives.
For this natural employment of the
bones and muscles of the system an hour
or two's practice in the gymnasium is but
miserable substitute, since the health
imparting exhalations from the ground.
as well as the interest and variety, are
wanting.
L
Nature is ever at work, producing her
most beautiful forms and transformations.
No man can witness attentively the ger
minaiion of the seed. the uprising of the
blade, the unfolding of the flower, the
maturing of the fruit, without and at the
same time becoming wiser, nobler, better.
The vegetable and the mineral king
doms here meet and work together. To
the curious every step in this working
offers something fresh for meditation
Why, tor instance, does the plumula
ascend? Why does it incline toward
the sun Why does it assume this or
that tint? Why does the sap arise in it P
Why does the plant take to this kind of
nuriment, another to that? Why does the
dandelion shoot forth in the Spring and
the astor in the Autumn? Why is this
leaf orbicular, this heart-shaped, this fin
ger shaped, this needle-shaped Why is
this plant medicinal, this poisonousP Why
| is this flower fragrant. this scentless !?
And thousand other curious questions
| constantly arise to awaken thought and
to turn it to the affluence of the inventive
power of the Creator.
| The garden, therefore teaches, and in
teaching elevates the mind. For this
reason, il may be. the first created man
and woman were made in paradise that
is, in a garden.
3. The garden is source of profit. |
have known a man who realized as much
from what he sold from his garden of one
half acre, as his Woodworking brother did
| from what he sold from his farm of more
/ than hundred acres.
1t is said that man consumes about =
! 900 pounds of food per annum. How
much OF this could can and should come
from the garden?
| ''l can buy vegetables. says one stand
ing by, and who calls in the doctor fire.
quently, 'cheaper than can raise them
! Not so. indeed, | answer, if you take
into account the health and instruction
impaired by the garden.
Then it is SO delightful to see your own
lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, melons, peas,
beans and sweet corn growing. 1t is so
pleasant to go ou: and with your own hands
pick your own currants. grapes, pears
and peaches. And what if you happen TO
raise few such things to give away to
your poor neighborP Does it not all come
in for profit?
garden. then, promotes your health,
imparts instruction, and greatly helps to
sustain your table. 1t helps other people
also. Some things you can afford to do
without, but see not how you can live a
really happy life without garden. Do
you9