The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-09-16
Farmers Flower Gardens.

flower garden: AS q rule, they look
upon the cultivation of flowers as a
waste OF time and money, and if there
is any attempt at ornamentation of the
grounds about their dwellings by men,
bers of the family. they will discourage
them directly or indirectly. There are
hundreds OF farmers who will spend
almost any amount of money at COM
mand tor good horse or other animal,
Just to have something TO brag about to
their neighbors, and then there must
DE something extra in the way Of har-
ness and buggy to accompany fine
morse. The same rule holds good when
1t comes to extra fine sheep, or blooded
cattle, which require. or at least receive
far more attention than common stock.
This is all well enough, but the head of
the family is selfish in such matters, and
thinks that what pleases him should
please every member of his household,
forgetting that tastes differ, and that
there is just as much sense in admiring,
tending and cultivating poppy or YER
bena as there is in polishing a buggy or
the coat of his favorite horse.
We might name some of the richest
farmers in the richest agricultural re-
gions of this country who provide mag
niticen. barns. stables, sheds and past
ures for their animals. but at the same
time keep their wives and children in
mean an uncomfortable houses, with
few conveniences for doing their work
easily and properly. Shade trees are
left or planted in the pasture for their
stock to recline under, but there is not
one near the house, while as for flowers
and ornamental plants, q Whit from
some fragrant old lilac or syringa is
about all the garden perfume which
reaches the inside of thousands of
country homes.
The usual excuse for neglecting to
cultivate flowers is want of time, but if
we watch closely those who offer it, we
find that they always spare time for
fishing, hunting, or any other pastime
for which they have y taste or inclina-
ton. 1t is simply a low. vulgar taste
OF relic of barbarism that excludes the
flower garden from SO many country
homes, and we are further compelled
to say that in majority of instances it
is the men of the family, and not the
women, who are the barbarians. Go
where we will in the United States, the
flower pots in the window, the vine
over the door or porch, the little bed of
sweet Williams or humble verbena iii
the front yard, are almost infallible
signs that there is a woman about, with
taste and love for the beautiful in nat
ure; and, although circumstances may
not be favorable for developing her
ideas in such matters, still the taste
and desire are there, and she is better
woman for entertaining them.
+. 1t is not only cruel, but wicked, fora
man to deprive any member of his fam
lily of innocent recreation, and we hold
that the flower garden affords it to those
who enjoy the cultivation of plants.
From mercenary or financial point of
view, beds of handsome flowers NAV
not be a paying investment; but if the
farmer is going to look upon all his sur
roundings and possessions in this light.
we fear he will be compelled to strike
off good many articles from his list.
We have known men to have children
that did not pay, in fact were great
source OF annoyance and expense, bus
there are few men who would dispense
with them on this account. There is
something in the appearance of things.
or there would have been more usefu;
and edible plants created, and fewer or.
namental ones. But it so hap.
pens that there are at least hun
dred of the latter to one of the former,
We mean, of course, plants useful to
man as food or medicine, for all plants
have their uses, and fill place designed
for them in nature.
No one can, with any degree of pro.
priety, plead ignorance as an excuse
for not cultivating few flowers or 9th.
er ornamental plants, for the florists
and nurserymen's catalogues. which ara
distributed free to customers, contain
all the instructions and information nee.
essary to enable any one who can read
to raise plants and trees of all common
kinds; besides, most of these little man.
uals make a note of the best sorts.
naming those best adapted to different
climates and soils. 1t only requires the
will; the way is open to all, and instead
of farmers homes looking, as far too
many of them do at the present day.
desolate and dreary, they might be
made to assume cheerful appearance
by merely planting few trees and
shrubs about them, with ar occasional
flower bed cut out of the grass plat.
Several of our lady readers have writ
ten US on this subject, and asked us to
scold little, if nothing more, all ad
hitting that the neglect of Horticulture
more than anything else made the homes
of farmers uninviting to the occupants
as well as to passing strangers. Of
course we do not say that all farmers
are negligent in these matters, but
while there are some neighborhoods
and entire counties where handsome
grounds are the rule, there are many
more where nothing of the kind is to be
seen. If one or two will commence
Horticulture in neighborhood, others
are likely to follow, and little strife
to see who shall have the best, even
upon a small scale, frequently ends in
an entire change in the appearance of a
whole town and county, adding greatly
to the health and happiness of the peo-
pie. m y San.