THE SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 197 



arrangement of our homes and the cultivation of those more delicious productions 

 of the orchard and garden, it would, perhaps, not be an inappropriate use of 

 our schools, both common and select, to furnish our youths with a general 

 knowledge of horticulture. But it is to our Agricultural Colleges, those insti- 

 tutions of a higher education in rural science, instituted and fostered by the 

 government, that we are to look for the higher training of our youth that will 

 raise up a band of teachers and exemplars who will lead us by their teaching 

 and examples to higher ground and a more refined taste in regard to matters of 

 this nature. 



4th. Last but not least, we look to our horticultural societies, State and local, 

 to disseminate and enforce a higher knowledge of horticulture among our peo- 

 ple, both by their theoretical teaching and the examples of their members. 

 The various essays, reports, and discussions that may be given to the public 

 through these associations are so many authoritive expositions of the principles 

 of horticulture as understood by the members of such societies. 



The examples of such persons are also of great value, and when exhibited in 

 a carefully arranged pleasure ground or a well kept lawn it becomes contagious. 

 A little aid to these societies from our Legislatures in this work of elevating, 

 refining and thus enhancing the happiness of the people, would but be the at- 

 tention and indorsement of true and enlightened statesmanship, and it would 

 certainly be an appropriate use of a portion of the public funds. 



L. J. Tempiln. 



OBJECT LESSONS IN HORTICULTURE. 



The record of admissions into the Centennial exhibition at Philadelphia 

 shows that over 100,000 persons visited it in one day. Now of that large num- 

 ber it may be reasonably supposed that at least half were pleased with the 

 horticultural display just then in all its glory. Did not the majority of the 

 visitors carry away to their homes a higher sense of the beautiful than they ever 

 before experienced? And without doubt many of them will treasure in memory 

 for future use suggestions of improvement to be utilized in their own grounds. 

 This system of practical education is very common in some countries of Europe. 

 On the occasion of a "Bank Holiday" last fall in London, 64,613 persons 

 visited the Royal Gardens at Kew in one day. At the Horticultural Society's 

 Garden at South Kensington on the same day there was 5,705 admissions. 

 Doubtless the advanced stage of horticulture abroad, as indicated by the uni- 

 versal window gardens in all the large cities, and the greater circulation of 

 periodicals devoted alone to horticulture, is mainly due to the system of public 

 free education afforded by the little parks and pleasure grounds so numerous 

 through and around the cities and towns. Their people imbibe a love for trees 

 and plants by daily intercourse with them ; and as the grounds are almost uni- 

 versally laid out and planted with taste, their judgment conforms to the 

 prevailing styles, and thus, in a small way, the lessons are reproduced in their 

 own yards and gardens. No thought have we of casting the least discredit up- 

 on books as a means of information, but we would impress the idea of the great 

 benefit to be derived from meeting together for mutual improvement and from 



