Year: 1863

suggestions IOT tne mOnth oil AprIl.


The showers of April melt the icy fettsr;
which have bound the Northern streams, and
they sing their hymn of freedom as they rur
along. The opening of an American Spring ID
o very matter of fact season. We have few Of
the flowers which have had the charm Of Eng.
lIsh poetry added to their own lovelness. The
Snowdrop does not bloom through our melting
SHOWS, nor have we many spring flowers that
have been widely celebrated In song. The Epi.
gaea--the fragrant and modest May Flower of
the Pilgrims-did 1t only grow all over the
country might we'll be taken as our emblematic
Spring Flower, but this is found in compare.
lively few localities. Our most common har-
biuger Of Spring bears the unseemly name Of
Skunk Cabbage. This with its curiously shan.
ed and bottled horns which are lifted no in the
swamps is the forerunner of the great Aoral
procession which will soon come crowdinr on.
Showers and sunshine In fitfnl alienation are
the characteristics Of April. Under their in
fuenoe the dull pastures brighten into tender
green, and the sombre hue Of the woodlands ia
enlivened by the red of the maple buds, and
the warm gray Of the poplar tasssls. Nature
begins to paint the great Landscape, and the
farmer, did he but know IL lie an artist work.
ing with nature to help make up the picture
In blowing the fields he Ia preparing the canvas
on which the waving grain and The Vipenine
corn shall paint gorgeous and ever-changine
colors.


Let ns stop here on the threshold of spring
work and consider If the plans formed during
the season of rest, have included all that NAV
be accomplished. The main work of the farm
has been laid out and the labor for that must
be done. Having provided for the stsple crops,
is there not some other spring work for which
time can be spared, and which will add much
to the comfort and sttrsctiveuess of The home
stead7 In the autumn we look upon the
orchard With lite ripeniDg fruit, with great in
terest but We are very apt to forget It In the
spring. 10 spite of neglect the generous trees
still yield fruit, which might be Increased both
In quantity and quality, by little extra care.
II the orchard bears good fruit it may be made
to bear better by coat of thorough msuuring
now, and judiclous pruning at late season. II
the trees are still vigorous, "natursl" ones
which bear fruit it for cider only, now ia The
time to renew them by grating. II they are
old and have suffered from long neglect, now Ia
the time to plant new orchard 10 replace
them. Last year established the value of
orchards. Il was one of unprecedented plenty


yet, In most places, good fruit brought ronnu-
nerative prices, and orchardista are extending
their plantations. An orchard of well selected


trees will be great comfort In ones declining
years, will be an excellent inheritance to leave
children, and, If the homestead should have 10
be sold, will add to its value an amount that
will pay we'll for the investment 4


Another thing that should claim attention Ia
the front yard or approach to the house. A
home-like look can, with little pains, be given
to very rude dwelling. 1t is not boards and
brick and mortar alone that make an attractive
home; IL IL the manner in which they are put
together. Every one, no matter how poor, has
certain materials at his disposal, and the char
acter of his home will depend upon the way in
which these are used. In the first place, letth
front.yard be neat aud if there is neither time
nor taste for adornment with flowers and shrubs
have smooth grass plot with here aud there an
elm or maple, or other forest tree We have
seen climbing rose give to q log house an air
Of rural beauty which is quite wanting in the
bleak, staring white houses that many a wealthy
farmer builds. Were farmers dwellings made
more attractive both within aud without, their
aons would be much less willing to leave them