The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-03-17

PracGHeaa Directions fer CuaaI-
vaalOn and Planting In Kan
Tread before q Horticultural meet
ing at the RInker school house, Feb.
9th, 1875, by Robert Milliken, Presi-
dent Lyon County Horticultural Soci-
ety.l
The American people are emphatic
ally practical people. In many Of
the countries Of Europe, about one day
in three Is 3 holiday, but in America
We have no holidays, unless We except
the Fourth OF July, and to limited
extent, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Europeans have, with good deal of
truth dubbed us nation Of dyspeptics.
Our people are In too much of hurry
to get rich, to afford the time necessa-
~ TO properly digest their food, much
less to lay aside the cares and anxiety
of business 20 spend an occasional day
as public holiday.
Naturally then the first considera-
ton that presents itself to any one con-
templating the commencement of bust
ness is, 'sWin IL pay s'' When young
man casts about him to determine
what calling or business he will adept
for 3 livelihood the important question
for him 70 determine is. sWfn It pay ?''
1t matters not what business, or call
ing, whether selling goods, practiclng
medicine, pleading law, or preaching
the goapels the question "Wi1 it pay ?''
must Be eonsIdered an5 satisfactorily
answered. When the farmer begins
operations on his nswfy acquired quar-
ter seetion Of prairie land, the first
question that presents itself for solu-
ton Is, "What shall I grow that will
pay the best3 Shall &c be corn, or
wheat, OF oats, cattles sheep, hogs, or
shall it be mixed husbandry ?''
Thus we see that filthy lucre, the
"Will it pay ?" is the leading idea per-
vading the whole system Of our bust
ness rela tons. Do not understand me
as desiring in the least to underrate the
importance Of industry, frGgality and
economy, excellent traits Of character
that should be fostered and cultivated,
but as wishing to urge upon you the
Importance of attention to more refin-
ing and elevating pursuits, which, at
the same time they pay q reasonable
profit for the time and money expend-
ed upon them, yield higher profit, in
the increased enjoyment they give in
contributing to the improvement and
advancement of the better part of our
nature.
Many persons are so constituted by
nature and education that they seem
incapable OF enjoying the refinementa
of civilization. The case of man ]
once heard of must lave been one OF
this kind: a wealthy and highly cul-
tivated gentleman, had at great pains
and expense laid out and planted fine
garden and pleasure grounds, and kept
them in good order. The reputation OF
this place had attracted the attention
of the people of the surrounding coua-
try on account of its great beauty and
its choice trees, flowers, and shrubs,
and people came from far and near to
see and admire it. One day q man
with but little taste for the beautiful,
wondering what people could ind in a
place of that kind to admire so much.
concluded he would go and see fol
himself He found the proprietor at
home, and as q matter Of course, Is q
gentleman Of refinement. and culture,
he invited TO show him all there was to
be seen. They passed around through
the grounds, and flower garden, the
proprietor dllating upon the beauties
and rare merits of this shrub or tree.
and that flower, without making any
apparent impression upon the blunted
perceptions of his rural visitor, until
they arrived at the farther end Of the
garden where piece of ground had
been planted in potatoes, which at once
aLtracted'his attention and seemed to
please him. He turned to the propri-
etOr and remarked, ''them taters look
mitey 6ne and you are goin' to have q
fine chance of 9 CROP" The propris-
tor turned upon him with An fndig-
nant frcwn, disgust manifested in
every feature, and remarked: 9Look
here, my friend, when 9 gentleman or
lady comes here Ehey can see the beau
tiful things God has made for US to en-
10y, but when All Internal hog comes in
he can see nothing but potatoes"
1t is not my object at this time to
discourage the cultivation of potatoes
or any other of the staple articles so
essential to our sustenance, and 50 i'm
pOrtant in the economy Of the country,
but to induce the people to strive to
obtain an occasional luxury in the
shape OF dish of luscious strawber-
ries or few quarts of raspberries and
black0erries as dessert to break the
monotOny of the universal ''hog and
hominy'' or corn dodgeF 50 common all
over this Western country.
The possession Of these luxusies Is
not so difficult Q matter as many sup
pose. I will attempt few simple di-
rectiOns, which think will help any
one to all they will be able to use OF
these delicious fruits at but little ex-
pense,. @
1 must first insist up0n compliance
with one or two simple conditions, the
neglect of which Is the most prolific
cause of failure.
The conditions are these: you must
attend TO your strawberry and black
berry plants 1t the proper time, just
/ when they need it. and not pat It on
until q more convenient season, like
most persons are disposed to do with
their spiritual interests.
The amount of work required IL but
trifiing, II done at the time, but if neg
lected, becomes q Herculean task and
is not very remuneratiVe.
! STRAWBERRIES.
| l mention strawberries first, for two
reasons: First, because it is the earl
lest to ripen, and second, because it
will make return for the outlay Of
/ l.