SOCIETY OF CENTEAL ILLINOIS. 205 



The Amaranth has been selected to typify immortality, and is 

 referred to in Longfellow's poem, "The Two Angels." The varied 

 and magnificent flora of America offers a vocabular}' replete with 

 brilliant and original tokens. 



Flowers are also emblems of several European countries, such 

 as the Fleur-de-lis, of France; the Thistle, of Scotland; and the 

 Shamrock, of Ireland. 



The last few years, with us, have been educators of the public, 

 in matters of taste for artistic work in flowers, to greater degree 

 than most of us yet realize. A careful inqury will show that the 

 business of the horticulturist has not been depressed like other 

 industries, and that the sales have constantly increased, and are still 

 going on with accelerating ratio. 



Hon. Jonathan Perram, of Chicago, says that horticulture 

 was, and always will be, the fine art division of agriculture, and 

 that high, civilized enlightenment was never reached without the 

 accompaniment of flowers, and garlands woven by the hands of 

 women, weaving them into the varied and beautiful forms that 

 grace our parlors and banquets; and, we might add, very many other 

 places both public and private, from the cradle to the grave. Flowers 

 are pre-eminently attractive to all tastes, and whatever shall render 

 home more attractive, more beautiful, more complete, is well worthy 

 of our attention, Nothing in the world of Nature is more more 

 elevating and refining than flowers. The lovers of flowers are more 

 apt than others to lead noble and upright lives. This is not strange. 

 The beautiful coloring, the wonderful tints, incapable of being pro- 

 duced by an artist's colors ; the delicate lining, and veining, show 

 the touch of the master painter. The fine mechanism by which the 

 fibres draw from the black earth food for growth, and coloring for 

 beauty; the intricate construction, not to be imitated in the most 

 delicate wax, point to a master builder. If these things are true, 

 the most potent influence for good, for elevating the thoughts, and 

 ennobling the life, outside of the personal influence of parents and 

 friends, are to be found among the flowers. Accord to them a fitting 

 place in the home life. Cultivate the beautiful flowers. Make an 

 attempt; those who have never tried can never realize what a pleas- 

 ure there is in it. How much of the happiness of rural life depends 

 upon the care bestowed upon the home, the grounds, the garden, the 

 fruit, the flowers, the domestic animals, and every living creature, 

 by ourselves, can only be estimated by those who have bestowed that 

 care, and vvho have derived the pleasure it affords. The cultivation 

 of flowers seems to weave about us a magical spell, and many are 

 the inspirations we receive therefrom. 



I would like to make a strong appeal to women for a more gen- 

 eral cultivation of flowers, as I believe in their humanizing influence — 

 in the lessons which they teach. It is a labor which has a moral in- 

 fluence. The mother who loves flowers will soon interest her chil- 



