National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-06-17

by those OF better character. He can show
oil about him how to beautlfy their homes
hy the judicious planting Of trees around
them. And every nurserYman's home
should, Of course, be a model in this
respect. 1t should be at the same time his
best business advertisement and an en-
couraging example for all who live near
him or who merely see his home az passing
travellers.
The rapid extentlon Of tho nursery pro-
duction In the United States Is important,
not only on account of the value OF the
property II represents, but for the ideas
which II suggests, the possibilities which II
reveals. 1t indicates development Of taste,
Increase OF wealth, and better knowledge
OF sanitary laws. IL attests tho demand for
landscape adornment, for woodcraft sup
plies, for local climatic notifications in aid
OF fruit culture, and for enlargement OF
fruit production generally. 1t illustrates
the growth OF esthetic culture among the
people, the disposition 10 expend money In
the qualification Of tastes so pure and whole
some, and the possession Of abundant
means for such qualification.
Win the enlargement OF population, the
Increase OF wealth, and the development Of
higher culture this demand for nursery pro-
ducts, now active and growing, must In
crease In accelerated ratio. The range Of
our climate from Nuwuk in Alaska, little
pole as human habltation, TO tropical Key
West In Florida, renders possible variety
In production that is only less limited than
that OF catalogue of the fora OF the world.
1t is sufficiently varied In soil and climate
for the production Of multitude OF plants
useful In the arts and in medicine, as fruits
for the dietary, and flowers for decoration
which are not now found In cultivation Even
a single state, that Of North Carolina, has
range Of elevation of 5000 feet from the
ocean sands to the granite summit, with
production ranging from seml-tropical to
Alpine forms. With such inducements to
introduce new plants, to multiply new va
rletles by the arts Of the horticulturst, and
difereDtlate In the highest degree the forms
OF so extensive flora for the qualification
OF taste and the adornment OF the land
scape, there must be increasing activity in
experiment and development on the part
OF the practical botanist, the nurseryman,
and the florist.
There is also an economic stimulus to the
development of these important classes OF
rural industry. Twenty-Five years ago half
OF the labor OF the country was engaged in
agriculture; In 1870 AZ per cent. were 80
employed; In 1880 the proportion was A
per cent. The use OF labor-saving imple-
ments and machinery is enlarging produc.
ton, reducing the hours of labor, and COM
polling the multiplication OF new lines OF
industry, new avenues Of effort. Wheat has
grown very. cheap since the product per
capita has advanced from four and one-half
to nine bushels. Cotton has been falling
since 1866, aud Is lower even than in 1859
and 1860 The rural world Is open-eyed and
vigilant in search Of new products which
are now either unknown or In partial sup
ply, or which will stimulate new wants and
command new trade. The opulent are
equally ready to accept new and rare pro-
ducts at high prices to crafty newly
developed tastes, or TO manifest distinc-
ton which wealth enables them to make.
Whatever the motive, II is well to draw from
euperiluous resources the rewards Of labor
in new lines, TO distribute a fraction among
those who need II for subsistence, and help
to promote the general welfare, without
competing with other labor to lower the
price Of the standard and necessary pro-
ducts Of agriculture.
The possibilities Of extension of tho use
OF decorative plants and flowers and of
fruit, are almost illimitable. The palate
may be satiated, the appetite appeased, but
the human eye is Unsuitable. Thousands of
dollars have been expended for floral deco
rations upon single festive occasion, and
this extravaganza Is stimulated by its exer-
else. There is no more direct or available
method OF redistribution Of unequally ac-
cumulated capital, and no moderate limit
OF the amount which may thus BIO turned
into the channels OF remunerative labor.
The market is so elastic, its demands of
ten increasing In geometrical ratio as the
price recedes In arithmetical, that 1t is i'm
possible to forecast its growth. When
prices are high, few can indulge; at lower
rates, buyers are numbered by thousands,
and when sufficiently low, by millions.
The use OF fruits Is immensely extended
under such conditions. The last census re-
ported fruits on the farms valued at $780,
676,l54. This was only that portion sold
from farm orchards, and doubtless very In
complete returns not including the home
consumption, and embracing none of the
fruits grown In thousands of towns and
villages. The statistician OF the depart
ment says that $150,O00,000 per annum, on
an average, will not cover the total value of
all the fruits Of different kinds sold or con-
sumed In the United States annually. The
amount required win increase with advance
OF population, and the rate Of consumption
will increase per capita with the ability of
the people to consume. II Is not desirable,
then, that prices should be high; reason
able and comparatively low prices will In
sure the largest possible production, and
yield the greatest profits.
There is large field for progress and
economical production Of fruits, In the Sc
lection OF varieties suited to the climate, in
the Introduction or production Of new va
rieties for the extreme north, and In the
growing Of subtropical fruits on the coasts
OF the Mexican Gulf and In southern Cali
fornia, In the greatest variety consistent
with climatic requirements. This intelli-
gent and practical audience will under
stand bow meager are these hints OF the
possibilities Of Improvement, OF introduce
ton, of dlyersifcation Of these various
lines, yet It is well to review them, to re-
call them to our minds, even imperfectly.
congratulate you on the fact that this
nurserymens convention has chosen for It's
place Of assembly this city, where may be
seen on an unequaled scale the effect of
planting trees in streets and parks. Apart
from It's attraction as the capital Of the
nation, no place could be more attractive
to the nurseryman than this. Here, as
nowhere else In our land, Is seen the value
and the charm OF trees. How changed for
the worse would Washington become II,
with all its grand buildings and wide
stretching avenues, Its so, 900 trees were re-
moved from Its streets and the thousands
moro which adorn Its parks and various in
closures. 1t is fortunate that, as visitors
from all portions Of our country come to
Its capital on errands Of business or pleas
ure, they have set before them this I'M
riValed example Of the beauty and adon-
ment which are afforded by trees. Visitors
may carry back to their village or city
homes an impulse TO secure the same effects
there, though 1t may be on lesser scale,
and which may so easily be done II once
there is will to do 1t. And In this view,
not least in importance, is the lesson af-
forded by those smaller reservations or
t TsesgOn spaces our 'r sTcss BY xyS the the n
avenues which cross them at various angles,
and which the visitor meets so often In his
walks or drives about the city. These show
how those small and usually waste places,
to be found in many Of our towns and vii
lagos, which often are worse than waste,
positive blemishes II not,absolute nulsances,
may be converted into objects Of beauty and
sources OF pleasure. Certainly a company
such as this association Of nurserymen can
hardly go home from such sight as Is here
presented TO them OF the identifying effect
OF trees without being encouraged In their
work or without having new convictions Of
its importance and Its capabilities. And
they need such convictions. Within a short
time we have become aware, not only that
our land owners need at the hands Of the