Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-03-26
Farm Decorations

No ONE ever thought, a few years ago,
that flowers and flower culture had much
to do with plain farming. A farmer was
one who had simply to make money out
of the ground; and all those topics which
did not relate Immediately to money
making were matters foreign to his
thoughts. True, at all agricultural exhibit
tons there were a few premiums held out
Tor flowers; but the amount of the awards
was very trif1ing, and 1t was seldom
thought becoming for any but the
ladies" to compete for them. Of late
there seems to be a change. Farms, gar
dens, and the floral decorations of farm
houses and farm tables are among the
most common of topics in agricultural
papers; and especially during the past
winter have matters of this kind been
among the most prominent topics at
farmers clubs and agricultural meetings
This is all as it should be. There is no
reason why farmers should not reap en-
Joyment from their pursuits as well as
make money; and there is no enjoyment
which gives more real and lasting pleas
ure than horticultural ones.
1t is often matter of remark by travel
ers in France how light-hearted the
French people and French peasantry are,
no matter how low or hard their lot NAV
be. How much of this may be due to
their floral taste? No matter how small
lot of ground they may own, or how
slim the product, they have a small piece
devoted to roses or some other fancied
flowers or fruits. Even in the cities
where their lot is often harder than on
the land, the poor never forgetth flowers,
let what else may go. Mr.. Fulton, of
Baltimore, in one of his pleasant letters to
his paper last year, referred especially to
this trait in the city people. He says:
The French woman must have her
daily supply of flowers, even if she kis
compelled 10 stint her table to obtain
them. When she purchases the substan-
tlalS for her breakfast she is sure to take
home with her bouquet of flowers. You
will scarcely pass window in an inhab-
liable house where, from the basement to
the pens erected upon the roofs, six and
| seven stories from the ground, there is not
| a display of f1ower-pOts. Having secured
quarters high up in the Louvre, we can
look down upon the upper stories of the
| nelghbOring houses, in each room of
which there appears to be separate fam
lily. They seem to be tailors, and at day.
break IN the morning the men are plying
| I1elI H6eItleS anu the women preparing
for breakfast and arranging their bouquets
for the breakfast table. The cultivation
Of flowers in all the palace gardens and
squares, and even by the street sides in
the Champs Elysees, is carried to perfec-
ton. The Luxembourg Garden is the
finest display of flowers cultivated in the
| open air [ have ever witnessed, and it is
thronged every evening with admiring
visitors. So also at the Jarden des Plantes
which we visited recently. Itwas crowd
| ed with visitors, and the flowers attracted
more attention than the great exhibition
Of the cattle of the field, the birds of the
air, the beasts Of the jungle and the fish
| of the sea, which are here collected and
open free to the inspection of the public -
1t is pleasant to note that our people are
gaining in this love for simple gardening.
The French have the reputation of being
frivolous to some extent. We need not
initiate them in their failings and weak
nesses, but we can take good points and
profit by them; and this one Of flower cul-
ture is especially worthy of following
FOr71ey'S Weekly Press