The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-16
A BLOsSOMING HOPE,

1t was happy inspiration that induced
this query from Professor Emory E. Smith
at the meeting of the State Floral Society
Friday evening: evil not some devotee OF
the goddess Flora raise up some temple in
which she can receive fitting homage?"
Reduced to prose this is an appeal for some
one of means to erect a building suitable
for the display of flowers.
Professor Smith might have elaborated
this plea into one of the strongest and
most reasonable of arguments, for his sug-
gestion is filed with wisdom" Let US sup
pose that his appeal had been put in
form something like this:
"To the Public: The California State
Floral Society, recognizing in common
with all citizens the splendid and alto
gether unparalleled results of Horticulture
in California and the great material advan-
tages which would accrue to the State
from an intelligent pursuit of this avoca-
ton and from frequent floral exhibitions
in the principal City of the State, respect
fully suggests that the erection of a hand
some floral temple in San Francisco for
the holding OF such exhibitions would be
productive of most valuable results. In
no other way, except by assiduous pains to
induce householders to ornament their
homes by the artistic cultivation of flowers,
can the wonderful resources of the State in
this particular be brought to the attention
of strangers visiting our shores.
"By reason of the fact that peculiar
climate permits thing impossible in any
other State of the Union-namely, the out
door cultivation of flowers from every part
of the world, with the result that in ali of
the four seasons of the year it is possible
for US to make a splendid exhibition of
flowers grown at very small cost-we are
enabled to hold brilliant exhibition of
flowers four times year. or oftener if we
please; for no sooner has any popular or
particularly attractive group of flowers ex-
hausted its blooming power than another
group is ready for display. You will OBJ
serve, therefore, that in such an exhibition
temple it is easily possible to give series
of displays which may cover the entire
year if we choose.
cit is unnecessary for US to inform YOU
not only that open-air Horticulture is an
exceedingly healthful and refining occupa-
tion in itself, and that its pursuit will ele-
vate the taste of our people and more fully
iHotl wv blOhi III Vic ISudTkdDlc CdDd-
bilities Of the climate, but that flowers at
tract and inform the stranger more eIo-
quently and alluringly than any other
evidence of natural excellence.
with these considerations in view, we
beg you to consider seriously the advisable
ity of erecting floral temple in San Fran
cisco. We respectfully suggest to this end
that perhaps the incorporation of the
State Floral Society into the scheme of
State Government, with view to the cree
ton and maintenance of such temple at
the expense of the State, under the auspices
of the society, or the creation of a depart
ment of the State University charged
with this matter, might find general ap-
proval. This failing, and, with it, the
cognate scheme of the official dissemina-
ton of knowledge concerning Horticulture