SOCIETY OF NOUTHEKN ILLINOIS. 229 



''The terraces adjoining the house, the hiwiis (It'sceiidiug from tlience, 

 the little flower-garden with the f'ouiiiain in the center, the walk.- 

 bordered with box. and the trees sheared into whimsical artiticial 

 form, together with the fountains, alcoves, and surrounding summer 

 iiouses. form a resemblance too striking to bear dispute." 



The use of glass in the construction of conservatories was early 

 known to the Greeks and Romans, and the gardens of Adonis were 

 proljably of this kind. It is said that in them were to be seen rare 

 trees from India and China — the myrtle and crocus in dower, inid 

 the cinnamon and frankincense trees covered with leaves, and cucuui- 

 bers grew there all the year round. And during all the doubtful 

 destinies of the dubious ages of darkness horticulture lived. 



But what else could she do, with all earth and the orbs of 

 heaven consjtiring to hel]) her? So. chaining the laws of n:iture iiud 

 the supernatural to her wheels, she pressed forward, foreshadowing 

 the destiny in her precions embryos. 



And as the world became physically more perfect and beautiful, 

 in the same ratio it l)ecame morally better. .Vnd to increase tli<'i)r(i- 

 portion is the work of the horticulturist. 



Science has its army of workers, whose brain-power is a mighty 

 element in the worlds progress, and agriculture drives the wheels of 

 commerce and navigation: but what shall we say of the whole ])ower 

 of horticulture in its full bearing u})on civilization ? 



Washington said "Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful 

 and noble employment of num." and to this we would luld, horticul- 

 ture is the most delightful, elevating and ins])iring em])]oynient of 

 man. 



And (rarfield, said ''As the government lights our coasts for the 

 protection of mariners and the benefit of commerce, so it should 

 give to the tiller of the soil the lights of })ractical science and ex- 

 perience."' And to this we would add the government should give to 

 the mother in the home protection froui the most gigantic crimk 

 of all crimes — the liquor traffic." 



"Great, wide, beautilul, wonderful world, 

 With the wonderful waters round you curled. 

 And the wonderful grass upon your l)reast. 

 World, you are licjiutifully dressed. 

 You, friendly Eailli, luiw far do you so 

 With the wiieat fields that nod, and the rivers th;it How, 

 With cities and gardens and cliffs and isles, 

 And peo])le upon you for thousands of miles." 



Ill Italy, after the dark ages, and with the Reformation, as the 

 art of gardening revived, it was patronized by the family of the 

 Medici, and their gardens, which were of the geometric and architec- 

 tural styles, long served as models for the most of Hurope. and it 

 continued to be imitated in France, Germany and Britain until the 

 introduction of the English or natural style. 



