The Press., 1894-04-26
[FOr The PreSS.l
The Beautiful Side of Agriculture.


 Agriculture is broad term. It is, in fact, so broad that only few understand how much it includes, while the vast ma iority limit it's meaning by the narrower and in their thought rougher and less at tractive term,-farming, by which they mean the production of few staple crops, and the breeding and care of domestic animals. Tell them that botany, pomolo- gy and horticulture are only distinct de- partments or branches of the great king dom of agriculture, and you will certainly awaken their surprise. Tell them that the latest rose is as truly an agricultural product, as is the potato, and you will surely challenge their credulity. As in nature, we only come to know grandeur or beauty by viewing it from many stand points, and thus becoming familiar with it's many phases, so we must not stand gazing for lifetime upon the rugged side of agriculture, if we would know how much there is to charm all our senses, on the other side.
 It is common thought that of all the myriads of beings and things that exist no one has been formed in vain. Utility, then, must have been the thought of the Creator, since all things are as he design ed them. But was this the only purpose of the Creator? What, then, of all the beauty of form, fragrance and color, and Of the sweet harmonies of sound which delight us on every hand? Is all this prodigality of beauty an infinite waste w thnPn n nl in foc beauty and adapting us to utilize it thro' the medium of our sight or our hearing?
 Such questions as these would seem trifling, if not irreverent, were it not that so few seem to recognize the beautiful about them as a gift conferred, and free to all who have eyes to see and who have ears to ear. Such thoughts as these are the suggestions of 8 recent perusal, more than tbis-a careful study of the catalogue of flowers, vegetables and fruits, issued for 1894, by John Lewis Childs, of Floral Park, N. Y. Perhaps it may be truly said that no man has done as much as he has done to emphasize privilege, and therefore duty, in the matter of home adornment. He has for years been levy ing upon almost every land and cline for the rarest and choicest of their flora to enrich our own, until now his catalogue of 188 octave pages is hardly roomy enough for the enumeration of varieties and illustrations of some of the choicest. As work of art his catalogue has never been equalled. In imitation of natures art in color and form no other has very nearly approached it. MT. Childs may safely adopt for permanent motto, "Ne plus ultra" for as nothing has equalled it in the past so we predict nothing will excel 1t for long years to come The lover of hardy or perennial plants such as adorned the gardens of New England in its earlier days, and still finger after the ancient dwellings have tottered to ruins, will find the old familiar names side by side with those of the younger members of the same family. In the department of novelties, too, there is a wonderful pro- fusion, and an almost startling variety. To the curious this offers the largest in ducements in the line of collections To all who choose to adhere to few favorite varieties or families of Towering plants, either annual or perennial, and annually look for some new development in each, MT. Childs offers more than they can reasonably anticipate. In his list of roses, chrysanthemums, gladiolus, and many other popular classes, there are many new names, and through perfection seemed to have been attained before, we are assured that these newcomers hold a clear title to superiority over all their kin.
 What we have said of the department of flowers will apply with equal truth to those of vegetables and fruits. In extent probably no other establishment of it's kind on our continent excels this at Floral Park. It may almost claim to be city of itself. Its mailing department is much more extensive than that of many large cities, as from 1000 to 10, 900 letters, from all parts of the world, are received daily. The mail sent out from Floral Park daily amounts to several tons. Such vast business enterprise as this, which is rapid ly Increasing, is 8 sure proof of the strict est integrity of it's conductors. It is also positive evidence that there is growing taste for the aesthetic in nature, as there is professionally in the realm of art, which augurs well for the future of our homes and of our whole nation.
 L. P. CHAMBERLAIN.
 StOrrs, Conn, April 21, 1894.