misery; and, so surely as the earth will bring forth noxious weeds when left uncultivated, so surely will one vice beget others; which, if not eradicated, will multiply to an alarming extent, until its victims become a pest to civil society, and a disgrace to mankind.

Now as happiness is preferable to misery, virtue to vice, knowledge to ignorance, and order to confusion, how important is it that those who make pretensions to rationality, should employ their leisure hours in a manner calculated to insure the greatest amount of that which is intrinsically valuable.

What subject can be better calculated to promote. such a desideratum than the subject of cultivation when viewed in all its bearings? But as we are about treating of Flowers, I would confine my ideas, as nearly as possible, to the object in view; trusting, that while the hand is employed in cultivating the transient beauties of the Garden, that the attentive mind will feast and fare daintily on the study of nature, and in the end enrich itself with solid and lasting good. As an excitement to such study, the following thoughts are submitted.

Nature in itself is beautiful, enchantingly beautiful, but it is the province of man to adorn it; to collect

about him the scattered and single beauties, and to see, and feel, and enjoy them. Nature is fruitful, inexhaustibly fruitful; but man must improve her fertility, guide it, and give it its most generally useful direction. Nature is full of life, but man is capable of diversifying, elevating, and ennobling this life; and he is amply rewarded for his labour.

"Thine is a glorious volume, Nature! Each
Line, leaf, and page, are fill'd with living lore;
Wisdom more pure than sage could ever teach,
And all philosophy's divinest store;

Rich lessons rise where'er thy tracks are trod-
The book of Nature is the book of God."

But I had almost forgotten that this treatise on the cultivation of the Beauties of Nature, is chiefly designed for the use of the softer sex. I shall not content myself by merely offering an apology for such digression, but will promise, in future, to bear them in mind throughout my studies, not doubting but my humble efforts to amuse and instruct them, will be duly appreciated; which, to an author, is a source of inexpressible satisfaction.

Having thus introduced myself to my fair readers, I shall proceed to treat of the cultivation of all the various kinds of flowering plants; and I flatter myself, that if I should, by implanting a taste for rural sub jects, succeed in making them good CULTIVA.

TORS, in the fullest sense of the word, that they will be immeasurably happy in "The Matrimonial Garden,"* should they ever enter therein; and in like proportion, as they advance in the work of cultivation, will they excel in virtue; which a wise man once declared was to a woman of immense value, "far above rubies," yea, even equal to a glittering "crown." That we may all attain our object, is the sincere wish of

THE AUTHOR.

Bowery Road, February 14, 1835.

* This refers to an article entitled "The Matrimonial Garden,"

which will be found at the end of the book.

Whate'er has beauty, worth, or power,
Or grace, or lustre, is a Flower;
Wit is a Flower; and bards prepare
The Flowers of Fancy for the fair ;
While Beauty's flowery fetters bind
In sweet captivity the mind.

Deep in the bosom dwells a Flower,
Nor time shall taint, nor death devour;
A Flower that no rude season fears,
And VIRTUE is the fruit it bears;

Which join'd to PATIENCE, PEACE, and LOVE,
Will smooth the path to realms above.