52 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 
lished a division of floriculture, and Cornell, although more 
or less complete courses in floriculture had been given under 
Prof. Bailey’s direction, has since developed a strong depart- 
ment. Other institutions are offering work along floricul- 
tural lines, but the work is not as highly specialized as in 
these three colleges. Before this, however, that man of 
broad vision, Henry Shaw, to whom we Garden students 
are directly responsible for our training, realized the fact 
that there would be a demand for men educated along prac- 
tical and scientific lines. He made this fact known when, 
in his will, dated January 26, 1885, he inserted this para- 
graph: 
“J declare my intentions that instruction to garden 
pupils shall, be attended to, both in practical and scientific 
horticulture, agriculture and arboriculture. I leave the 
details of instruction to those who may have to administer 
the establishment, and to shape the particular course of 
things to the condition of the times.” 
The Board of Trustees, on assuming control of the Gar- 
den, gave this feature of Mr. Shaw’s will their very early 
consideration. In December, 1889, the first announcement 
concerning Garden pupils was issued. In this we find the 
following: ‘In accordance with the intentions of its Founder, 
the Trustees of the Garden propose to provide adequate theo- 
retical and practical instruction for young men desirous of 
becoming gardeners.” 
The system followed in the work at the Garden in the 
early ses bs was modeled after that in use at the Kew Gardens, 
England, and floriculture was from the very beginning one 
of the most important phases. This system has been giving 
excellent results, and has actually been the foundation for 
the courses offered by our agricultural colleges to-day. The 
important factor in the instruction at the Garden is the 
emphasis that is placed on the practical work, as this gives 
the student the assurance and confidence that he understands 
tasks set before him and the best way to acomplish 
them. 
The courses offered to-day by the progressive institutions 
include work in greenhouse management, commercial flori- 
culture, greenhouse construction, garden flowers and_bed- 
ding plants, conservatory work, floral decorations, and retail 
store management. Great emphasis is placed on the com- 
mercial side of floriculture; nevertheless, the courses will 
serve as a foundation for the student who wishes to go into 
private garden, park, or cemetery work.. In addition to the 
collegiate work, the department at the Massachusetts Agri- 
cultural College offers a special ten-weeks’ course in commer- 
