256 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



taught us to be true to ourselves, to our country and our God. For 

 upon truth, the foundations of the world are laid. He taught us 

 the true religion when he said: " Man flows at once to God when 

 the channel of purity is open. He is blest who is assured that the 

 animal is dying out of him day by day, and the divine being 

 established." 



Thoreau died in comparative youth and obscurity. Few men 

 knew of his greatness until he had left them for the other home, and 

 his last words will surely be a prophecy: " For joy I could em- 

 brace the earth; I shall delight to be buried in it. And then I 

 think of those among men who will know that I love them though 

 I tell them not." 



" To these, to these, their thankful race 

 Gives them the first, the iairest place, 

 And brightest is their glory's sheen, 

 For greatest hath their labor been." 



FLOWERS FOR ALL. 

 Mrs. D. C. AYRES, Green Bay. 



It is for a very plain and practical purpose that I present this 

 paper before those who, perhaps, know far better than myself, the 

 need of a consideration of its topic. That the rich may have 

 flowers is self evident; that those in moderate circumstances may 

 obtain them, is proved by the fact that they have almost the monopoly 

 of the enjoyment; but that the poor, the really poor, who struggle 

 daily for a daily existence, should enjoy floral treasures, and watch 

 leaf, and bud, and flower, until they too shall claim Heaven's choicest 

 gifts as their own heritage, seems to others than themselves, almost 

 an impossibility. True, a rose bush, geranium or box of mignon- 

 ette in one window of an humble home, proves the love of some 

 can surmount the difficulty, but they are the exception. A little 

 flower bed, protected from the inroads of surrounding animals in 

 some secluded spot, speaks of aspirations for the beautiful, but ah! 

 how many homes are barren and drear, which should be bright with 

 floral brilliance. 



Let us discuss to-day, how to bring the wealth of nature to the 

 doors of those who may be deprived of other enjoyments in life, 



