52 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



has been shown in the purely ornamental features of school grounds, the 

 growing of flowers and shrubs and ornamental trees. With such a uni- 

 versal interest among children in beautifying their school home, can it 

 be doubted that the introduction of this feature into the rural school will 

 stimulate intellectual growth and train the child of a true and abiding 

 love for the country and to a desire to beautify the farm home by shade 

 trees and ornamental plants and by surrounding that home with an air 

 of harmony and fitness, of sympathy and grace, which indicate the subordi- 

 nation of the commerce of the farm to the higher purposes of life. This 

 mania for material prosperity and povery of appreciation of the beautiful 

 in home surroundings have driven many farmers' children from the farm 

 when a little appreciation, a little effort to secure this harmony of home 

 surroundings, would have given far different results. 



The farmers' clubs, debating societies and farmers' institutes furnish 

 a most excellent opportunity to extend horticultural knowledge among- 

 the people. The men who are willing to devote themselves to such work 

 should take advntage of every institute to get a discussion of these sub- 

 jects. Plans should be developed simple enough so that the farmer 

 can do the work easily and quickly without too much hand labor. Each 

 member of this society should demonstrate to his neighbors that he has 

 solved the problem f&r himself, by producing the choicest fruits and 

 vegetables and that he is thoroughly up to d'ate in all his methods of 

 culture and of combating curculio, codling moth, bacterial diseases, etc.^ 

 since his example will be more convincing than any amount of advice 

 which he fails to follow on his own farm. 



The President: We are now to be favored with a vocal solo by Miss 

 Edna Crooks. 



Miss Crooks sang "Ah, I Have Sighed to Rest Me," from II Trova- 

 tore, and "Love Me and the World is Mine," which were enjoyed very 

 much by those present. 



The President: I am sure we are all pleased to have another of our 

 University friends here this evening, and I know what he has to say will 

 be of benefit to all of us. Hon. George Coupland, of Elgin, one of the 

 Regents of the University of Nebraska, will speak on the subject, "The 

 Home Beautiful and its Relation to Chanacter Building." Mr. Coupland 

 has long been an ardent admirer and enthusiast of things to help make 

 the home more beautiful and enjoyable. ^Ir. Coupland. 



The Home Beautiful jiud Its Kelatiou tj Character Building. 



Hon. George Coupland, Elgin. 



Mr. President and ^Members of the Horticultural Society: 



I count it a very great pleasure to be with you today and to be 

 permitted to take part in your program. It brings a satisfaction of aa 



