Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-25
TALK ON HORTICULTURE.
Rev. G, W. Kent Addressed the Weekly
Meeting of the Society,"

One of the most interesting Of the lec-
lures that have been given before the
horticultural Society weekly meetings,
and very instructive from a scientific
point Of view Vas delivered by Rev. G.
w. Kent, pastor of the South Unitarian
Church, Thursday afternoon.
In opening his remarks, MIR. Kent eX
pressed the great pleasure it gave him
to turn from the talk of war to address
those who dealt in the kindly art of
peace and good will TO man, which those
persons who cultivate the soil have
shown from the time the first savage
began to subdue his nature and turn
from his ferocity and cultivate the
ground. While Mr.. Kent confessed that
practically he was no gardener yet he
could disclose a little sensein his ig-
norance, and he thoroughly admired
the skill which can make the desert
blossom as the rose. even If his own
private plot had the bad taste to bios
som with dandelons, and while his at
tempts showed little inclination to ar
rive to even the maturity which is re-
quired for the consumption of the veg
etable with its leaves by insects or cat
erpillars and insects, yet he had good
neighbor who frequently provided him
with plenty of garden products.
Any one familiar with English life
will recall with delight the early Maying
parties, when the children went forth in
glee to gather the first flowers of the
hawthorn. No cottage in England is
complete without it's wreath Of briar-
rose encircling the porch, and many a
homesick Englishman is reminded of his
home and early associations by the
scent of these flowers. The hawthorn
hedges which form so pretty an adjunct
to the English landscape, and which are
so impenetrable a barrier to all cattle
and the briar-rose. are cousins. They
belong by right to one of the largest
and most useful of the vegetable famil-
les, which has proved a firm friend of
man, for to this family belong the
peach, apricot, cherry, plum, blackber-
ry, dewberry, strawberry and many
others. All these belong to that noble
family, the rose family.
The thorn so far as being the curse of
God on man, thus proved blessing in
disguise. In speaking Of the apple FAM
lily, Mr.. Kent said that over 1000 differ
ent varieties were now in existence as
compared with 100 varieties known 200
years ago. The hard, sour fruit which
Pliny found so unpalatable has become
the luscious Northern Spy, or Craven
stein, or Albemarle pippin of commerce.
inhabitated by fierce beasts, it was nee
essary that the mother rose should pro-
tect her offspring from the inroads of
the huge beasts that then roamed upon
the face of the earth, and to this end
she was provided with thorns for self
defence. In time these became FRUIT
bearing branches.
Mr.. Kent contrasted the disposition Of
primeval man with the rose. In his
f1.N e,A,, 81 fK,fa -otstd
defended, lacking the best means for
defence, he became aggressive in order
that he might hold his own with the
fierce deniZens of earth; but, as time
wore on, he became changed from the
hard, unlovely character, into the help
full friend, bearing the fruits of help
fulness, faithfulness and love.
In this way the words Of the prophet
are realized Instead of the thorns
shall come up the fir tree, and instead
of the briar shall come up the myrtle
tree"
At the close of Mr.. Kent's remarks
Mr.. Hadwen declared the meeting open
to anyone who chose to discuss the
subject. S. H. Record took exception to
the theological teaching of MIR. Kent's
| remarks, and fancied that God created
things in perfect condition at the begin
ming. Mr. G. B. Knight also spoke favor
aply on THIS SIDE or the question, relat-
ing anecdotes of Abraham Lincoln and
others to illustrate his remarks.
| c. S. Harrison, the financial secretary
of the Kingfisher College of Oklahoma,
who is sojourning in the east in behalf
of his college, spoke in brightest terms
| of the beautiful characters that are de-
Yeloped by cultivation. In his remarks
| he supported Mr.. Kent heartily
o. B. Hadwen, president of the socie-
| ty, made announcement that the next
meeting would occur March 8, and that
Edward Breed of Clinton would address
the society.