HORTICULTURE IN Quit HOMES. 49 



The next paper was read by J. S. Stickney, of Wauwato?a, on 



WHAT SHOULD BORTICULTURE DO FOR OUR HOMES? 



It should furnish the poetry, the music and the pictures of our 

 everyday lives. As we go and come, the varying landscape, the 

 trees, grouped by nature's own hand, or modified, Dot always im- 

 proved, by our efforts; the shrub, the climbing vine, the wayside 

 flower, the waving grain, the smooth green pasture?, with here and 

 there a glimpse of river or lake, should each and all impress upon 

 us a feeliDg of coolness and comfort, rest and happiness, imperv- 

 ious to the common fret and worry of business life. From the 

 delicious strawberries of June to the noble apples of autumn and 

 winter, our senses of sight, smell and taste should be gratified, 

 our appetites stimulated, our bio >d co)led and purified, our 

 bodies healthfully nourished and strengthened. Taking all these 

 as nature gives them, it should be our work and our pleasure to 

 improve and increase them, and to gather them so liberally about 

 our homes that we may be constantly within their influence. 



Yes, all this should be, but it is not, neither do we expect that 

 it will be, for degrees of skill, effort and progress, come as natur- 

 ally into our horticulture, as into our agriculture or mechanic 

 arts. Yet it is a little strange, when the love of, and taste for the 

 good and beautiful is so universal, we should be so easily turned 

 aside and discouraged. 



Send a hundred children to the woods for May flowers and 

 notice the eager pleasure with which every one searches and 

 gathers. Is it not safe to look a little further on and see them all 

 cultivating flowers ? Lead the same party through orchard or 

 garden attbe proper season, and the owner thereof will not doubt 

 their hearty approval and appreciation of ripe fruit. If these are 

 not the material for horticulturists and horticultural societies, 

 where are we to find it? Yes, the material is abundant and good, 

 but how sadly do we waste and spoil it in the working! 



The child is passionately fond of flowers. Very simple flowers 

 they may be, wild violets and daisies, or grass pinks and sweet 

 peas, as easy of culture as corn and potatoes. From his earliest 

 4 — Hort. 



