234 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL 



The condemned murderer watches the petition for his reprieve, 

 or the motion for a new trial, with the deepest anxiety only to 

 learn that a just and honest judge has decided that he must abide by 

 the decision of the lower court and swing into eternity. The boodle 

 alderman trusts confidently in a hung jury or a prospective trip to 

 Canada, and while they may meet with a sort of a half-way freedom 

 in their minds they ever fear the well-merited punishment ihey so 

 richly deserve. And may we not, if we look carefully about us, see 

 something of a determination among those of our profession to prac- 

 tice in some degree this last hope of a drowning man, or " catching 

 at straws." For instance, Mr. so and so has for years been quietly 

 and steadily pursuing the cultivation of certain horticultural pro- 

 ducts with perhaps but moderate financial success, when a long- 

 winded agent for some new fangled foreign berry, plant, or flowei*s, 

 induces him to purchase largely of his new and untried product at a 

 fabulous price. Is not the purchaser "catching straws" just as 

 much as the drowning man? When a hard-working horiculturist, 

 who has made a reputation for fair dealing, resorts to shallow boxes 

 or putting all the best fruit at the top of his packages, is he not 

 "catching at straws," for may not his new method of doing business 

 drive his customers from him and spoil his reputation for honesty, 

 and thereby ruin his business. 



Wheu the strawberry fields are white with blossoms, and the 

 wife of the horticulturist sees visions of silk dresses and new bonnets 

 floating before her eyes, is she not catching at straws? For may not 

 the midget have said in his heart, " The strawberry crop is mine, tra 

 la! and I will do unto it even as the horticulturist would do unto 

 me, if he knew how and had the power, tra la! " 



And when the orchards are redolent with sweet perfume, and 

 each tree resembles a huge bouquet, and the son of the orchardist 

 thinketh that from the proceeds thereof he will enjoy many a moon- 

 light buggy ride, and many a dish of cream with his fair one, is he 

 not catching at straws? For, mayhap, the canker-worm cometh, and 

 humpeth himself, and devoureth every leaf and blossom, and leaveth 

 the orchard as bare and black as in mid-winter. As least such has 

 been my experience, and I am now feeling in my pockets for the 

 shekels that ought to be there and are not. 



When the blackberry patch covereth itself with bloom like a 

 blanket of snow, and the lord of creation (or man of the house) saith 

 to his offspring: " Behold ye the immensity of the harvest! Prepare 

 ye boxes by the million, and crates by the thousand, that we may 

 scoop in the coin by the bushel, and make merry with our friends 

 exceedingly!" Is he not "catching at straws?" For may not the 

 burning, blistering, blighting drought play sad havoc with his ex- 

 pectations, and may he not find himself sneaking through his berry 

 patch with an awning over his head and a magnifying glass in his 

 hand, trying to discover the whereabouts of the poor, miserable, 



