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over extends to the least of us. Every thing in life has
a double office, to acquire & to dispense, but as the
latter can never be fulfilled without the former, let us
be persuaded to double diligence in our efforts to secure
the greatest good to the greatest number.

Beginning business at the usual hour, half past 5,
with Walter H Brook acting foreman, we proceeded at
once to read the minutes of last year, & then a walk to the
garden was proposed. The ladies immediately responded
& were soon admiring the fresh green sod around the door
yard & the pretty appearance of things generally; but the
inertia of the gentlemen was more difficult to remove, they
admired the slothful habit gained in the winter, & were
loth to leave the lounges, easy chairs & warm fireside for
the matter of looking at a garden, when there was nothing
to eat in it, & even no work to be done. The garden
was principally a pear orchard thoroughly soded, & the small
beginning that had been made toward cultivating the remainder,
was probably of that very desirable kind which has oft a
"mighty end," & the table will no doubt yet be furnished a luxurious
supply of vegetables. The new hot bed gave prom.
of tomato a beet plants, and a cute little harrow, for mellowing
the earth in hot bed or flower garden, made by driving common
nails into a handle, shaped at the lever and like a
carpet stretcher, was much admired, and gave further evidence
of the natural genius of our host. Returned to the parlor we read
the minutes of last meeting & then discussed the following questions,
Albina Stabler asked what should be done with their yard, where