The independent., 1907-02-28

ture Of the field with which the de-
partment has to deal. "What is horti-
eiiiture?' "IIorti' comes from the Latin
'Hortus" meaning a. garden; and "cul-
ture,' meaning just what it says,
makes the natural definition Of the
word ''the culture Of a garden" the
term garden" as here used is large
one when considered in its widest
meaning The garden Of Eden was sup
posed to contain all manner of fruit
and included likewise all manner Of
trees and plants that were then known.
Thus the term, horticulture, is meant
to embrace a knowledge Of the char
acter and cultivation OF all known
trees fruits. flowers. etc, that are in
existence to day.
An endless variety Of these horticul-
tural forms exist today and so we
must command a wide variation in our
knowledge of this subject if we are to
do ii justice.
The writer has had nearby forty
years of contact with the practical
side of this work, and should have
obtained a good mastery OF its art, but
the longer we live and learn the more
plainly do we see our own limitations
in this knowledge. Scarcely day
passes but that some new light comes
to us Of the many secrets that nature
has held in her keeping all this CEN
turies. With the thought of being my~
tually helpful to each other let MY
readers join with me in search for
further knowledge. If you will indi-
cate to me by letter what questions
you want answered, | will be glad to
do what ] can TO enlighten my readers
or point out the way in which such
light may be obtained. Horticulture
and agriculture are two closely related
scences-one the culture Of garden,
the other the culture of a field
Should we be found treading on the
border of the neighboring field Of agri-
culture no harm will be done, both of
these arts are SO -ennobling and emf
nently useful as to be worthy of our
best thought and talent.
The Free Seed Graft.
The season is again at hand for the
seedsmen and florists to distribute their
annual catalogues and free samples of
seeds. We welcome these bright col
ored plates of flowers and vegetables
as they come to us with a shadow of
dstrust fearing that they are over
drawn and are calculated to overwOrk
our credulity and strain too strongly
our purse strings The free samples of
seeds that are being offered more and
more freely each year, are but another
step in this line of high pressure to
obtain trade 1t is a legitimate effort
when not over done. but we fear it has
already overstepped the bounds Of
propriety and is assuming the nature
of public graft" The congress at
Washington is the real instigator and
80 hi frna nn1 r,so nd
against this source the effort should
be directed toward a reform. AS long as
our senators and representatives in
congress are permitted to "catch votes
by means of their free seed franks
we can not blame our seedsmen from
like effort to catch trade by means
of the t'free sample" of seeds. We re-
ceived this customary package of seeds
from Washington a few days ago. 1t
bore the frank of our senior senator.
A few hours after the receipt of this
package we sat down and-wrote him
the following letter: Dear Senator:
The package of seeds from the depart
mont Of agriculture bearing your frank
II received today. | have just been
testing the terminating power of these
seeds by placing them in our heating
stove. Their ashes will be used next
spring to add to the fertility of my
garden soil Barn yard manure, how
ever. is much cheaper and quite as
effective 1t would be a saving therefore
10 Cnele Sam should you direct your
gifts TO some better purpose. AS a
vote getter I believe this free seed
business Is failure. 1t is a graft upon
the public that should be cut out The
sooner YOU viii exert your influence to
put an end to this sham work. the bet
ter / will like you. | believe a large
majority of your farmer constituents
feel ns / do about this matter"
If those of our readers who may be
ao fortunate or unfortunate, rather ms
Ia receive these special favors (2l from
thcir congiVssmen. will give the same
recortlon 10 their gifts and then sii
dawn and write them about II. y vii
moi be long before this long abused
and over-worked privilege OF our con-
rressmen viii be "cut out"
what harm does It doy" Ask youu'
local scotsman his opinion about IL
.s..f .enne4tslf In lia niQrft