The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-19
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY MEETING
February Gathering of Members Held Saturday, and
Many Things of Interest Are Heard.

view that appeared SO pleasing. This
was because picture was presented
to the mind. Perhaps you did not
analyze it-possibly you could not tell
the elements of which 1t was compos-
ed-yet the picture was there. 1t at
tracted your attention.
not trees nor shrubs nor flowers that
make a picture, but the proper ar
| rangement of trees, shrubs and flow
ers. Brick and stone and wood only
give us architectural effect when prop
erly arranged. Take view OF the inn
mediate neigAborhood. To the OBJ
serving eye does not each little plot
of ground about the house tell much
OF the characteristics Of those who
dwell therein? Here We see good
taste and order; there vulgarity and
disorder. Here mathematical precis-
ion; there chaos and confusion. Here
you see evidences Of much labor, but
all misdirected, without skill or know
ledge. Again you see evidences Of
| and the lack of time and means result
in failure. Here We see profusion of
trees, shrubs and flowerbeds without
any design, mixed nursery and not
a harmonious landscape. There we
have neither trees nor shrubs nor
| flowers, and the house looks naked
and desiate. Every phase of human
character is shown, We have a reflect
ed portrait, sort of mental photo
graph in the grounds about every
house of the family that occupy 1T. If
We have beautiful school buildings
with beautiful surroundings, the in
| ference is inevitable that we shall
have noble teachers, teachers who
can help in making a beautiful world
still more beautiful.
1t may be said that the introduction
training in our country schools is
more practical than horticulture. But
| is this true? Let us consider, while
horticulture is one of the youngest
1t is one of the most rapidly develop
| ing arts in this country. The fruit
interests alone of states like Califor-
mia, New York, Indiana, Ohio, and
others, are great and constantly grow
| ing. The forcing of winter vegetables
and the cultivation Of the finer pro-
ducts Of the kitchen garden are rapid
ly extending, and becoming more and
| more profitable.
Commercial Horticulture is develop
ing with marvellous rapidity and bids
fair to soon become one of the most
important branches of horticulture.
According to the sensus of 1900 the
annual product from this business
was over forty-siX million dollars. The
society of the American Florists,
one of the strongest distinctively hor-
ticultural organizations in this coun.
| try has for years perisistently urged
the importance and necessity of
schools or departments Of Horticulture.
Perhaps it is doubtful if there is any
industry of equal extent and useful
ness SO entirely wanting in opportuni-
| ty for instruction and training. With
| the exception of the Shaw Botanic
garden at st. Louis know of no place
where one who wished to become a
practical florist can go for guidance
and instruction. l have received let
| tiers the past year which testify that
young men and young women are
looking toward Horticulture as a vo-
cation which offers many and signal
advantages.
| 1t is a vocation specially adapted to
women, and several thousand are al
ready engaged in it. We should also
remember tt.<t a general home inter
est in flowtSs and ornamental garden
ing is rapidly developing.
1t will thus be seen that by a broad
and liberal Interpretation horticulture
embraces many different divisions
and in each of these there is grow
ing demand for instruction and train
ing. At what place can this be so
well begun as in our country schools.
Education by the state is something
more than business enterprise or
mere commercial speculation. True.
education is based upon philanthropy.
1t is the duty of the state to provide
and extend to our citizens, be the
demand great or small. The cultiva-
tOlS VI tuC oOil OutuOhUSk Oil OlACA
classes of our population. In these
years of general business diversion
many are anxiously seeking for in
struction in the various branches of
horticulture. Never before in the his
tory of our country have SO many
small holding of land been used to
such good advantage. Probably no
class of our population are giving
more earnest thought to the different
economic problems now facing this
country than are the horticulturists.
l am certain that no class is more
eager to receive the instruction and
| inspiration of science. Should not
this subject of practical horticulture
in our country schools be thoroughly
agitated, and brought before the at,
tention of every rural community. 1t
appeals to every practical man. In
its diversions and by its methods it
| furnishes technical training, useful
knowledge and intellectual culture.
IL you say there is no time for
such training, then time should be
made for it. l have yet to learn of
a country school where certain sub.
jects could not well be omitted or
postponed in favor of this. To train
the eye and hand. to stimulate the
power of observation, to awaken an
appreciation of the beautiful, in short
to develop all the faculties of the body
Il -. =.