80 American HoHkultaral Society. 



use. Grubs, bugs, worms, roots and nuts form his food, for he finds them 

 everywhere at hand ready for immediate use. 



As the human being rises in the scale, he begins to look to his personal 

 comfort, and the utility of an article is looked at from a number of stand- 

 points not known to the barbarous races. After awhile he develops aesthetic 

 faculties, and articles of utility are made with reference to how they look, 

 as well as adaptation to use and comfort. Dillerent shades of these three 

 characteristics of the development of civilization are to be found everywhere, 

 and circumstances often make the lowest grade quite prominent, even in 

 the midst of a highly advanced civilization. For example, the pioneer going 

 into a new country to hew himself a home is necessitated to buy a heavy 

 wagon to transport building materials and the products of his agriculture. 

 This wagon is neither comfortable nor art stic, yet he must use it until bet- 

 ter circumstances and improved roads enable him to buy a spring wagon, 

 and finally a costly coupe or phaeton. Again, he needs a garden, a barn, a 

 yard for his stock, and various conveniences around his place, and utility is 

 apt to take precedence of everything else. He wants fruit and he at once 

 plants trees; at the same time he needs shade, and he naturally tliinks the 

 shade of an apple or cherry tree just as grateful as that of a maple or oak, 

 which bear no edible fruit. Thesc^ trees are often planted where future 

 years show they should not be, and after the man has acquired a competence 

 he finds himself surrounded with a jumbled up mess of necessary conve- 

 niences that are really very inconvenient and inharmonious. The progress of 

 civilization in this country is gradually leading many to more advanced 

 thought upon the planning of their homes, and there is actually a demand 

 for hints and advice upon the subject. This leads me to offer a few sugges- 

 tions upon the topic, which I do with some hesitation, as a body of educated 

 and progressive horticulturists like the ladies and gentlemen of the Missis- 

 sissippi Valley Society need such suggestions far less than tens of thousands 

 who will never see its reports. 



As I have before hinted, a great many of what we may designate as the 

 grown-up homes of the country are in a condition far from satisfactory when 

 judged by a high standard of either taste or convenience. 



The problems concerning the rearrangement and beautifying of such 

 home surroundings are intricate and varying, and there are but two ways of 

 dealing with them : one by special plans for each : the other by the study 

 and application of general principles, which lead to educated taste and from 

 which important details can be inferred or derived. 



Within the Mississippi valley a larger share of the homes in process of 

 being established, or yet to be established, are located. It is especially fitting, 

 therefore, that this Society should grapple with the problems that pertain to 

 the making of our homes more convenient, beautiful and happy. In dis- 

 cussing these problems I shall not attempt to say aught in regard to that 

 portion of the valley known as the Sunny South. With its wants, the 

 requirements of its people, and its ornamental plants, I know so little that I 



