108 Ainencan Horticultural Society. 



In connection with this subject, we may bo allowed to strongly commend 

 to this Society the propriety of adopting and enforcing, in its practice, these 

 or equivalent rules, not merely in their application to pomology, but also and 

 equally in their application to horticulture genendly ; if not for the simpli- 

 tication of the nomenclature of the past, at least for the purification of that 

 of the future. 



The tendency to redundancy in names is perhaps more decided in plants 

 •of French origin —a fact possibly attribuUible to the very vivacious and de- 

 monstrative characteristics of that language and people. Since this Society 

 is, in fact, acting the role (although hesitating to assume the title) of a na- 

 tional organization, it might (perhaps in association with the American Po- 

 mological Society), with the utmost propriety, open correspondence with 

 the leaders of French, and even of Euroj^ean horticulture, looking to the 

 adoption and inauguration of a system of equivalent international horticul- 

 tural rules covering this entire field, thus securing the fullest harmonj' in 

 ■such matters— a result most earnestly to be desired. 



Such action becomes more desirable on account of the more modern and 

 nearly spontaneous development of the practice of horticultural home adorn- 

 ment among our people, both within and without the dwelling. In such 

 cases, generally, the planter sadly needs training, together with general in- 

 formation on the subject, not only in the arrangement and laying out of his 

 grounds, but also as to the choice of plants for the purpose, as well as for the 

 selection and management of the appropriate plants for winter greening in 

 living rooms and private conservatories. 



Nothing will more effectively subdue, refine and elevate the boisterous 

 rowdyism of Young America, while in the transition state between child- 

 hood and manhood, than to surround him, during this most impressible 

 period, with beautiful trees, plants and even flowers, and by associating 

 them, in his mind, with the ideas and responsibilities of ownership and the 

 thoughtfulness that such consideration naturally inspires. Children thus 

 taught, during their earlier years, to value, and hence to study the produc- 

 tions of nature, will, as a natural result, develop into better and more useful 

 citizens. Hence the importance of surrounding the school-house, within 

 whose walls the minds of the masses are so largely molded, with pleasing, 

 elevating and refining influences, in the form of trees and plants, which will 

 be found all the more useful for this purpose if planted, cared for and owned 

 by the children severally. We can scarceh' bring associational influence to 

 bear upon a subject of more imminent importance to the future of our 

 country and people. 



That heretofore dreary and neglected corner of the average farm, the 

 kitchen garden, has, we fancy, already begun to feel the influence of occa- 

 sional rays from the associational luminary ; still, however, except in occa- 

 sional cases, it seems to be regarded merely as a spot on which to bestow an 

 occasional spare half hour, which is likely to recur too rarely for the satisfac- 

 tory or profitable management of the plat in question. 



