AVINIER MEETING AT CARTHAGE. 85 



It was a grand treat for me to visit the Olden fruit farm. I could 

 not realize what they were doing there till I saw for myself. When I 

 was there the peaches were about half grown. We were shown 

 through orchard after orchard, the trees all laden with fruit. There 

 were not only peaches, but several orchards of Ben Davis and other vari- 

 eties of apples with tine crops of fruit. 1 think it is a great encour- 

 agement to young people to start in horticulture. It is one of the best 

 schools in which to learn horticulture. I think we can send fruit to 

 Chicago every day to make that exhibition one of the greatest on re- 

 cord. 



Dr. Curry — My mistakes were mistakes of others ; ray successes 

 were unknown to others. As to planting many varieties, I do not 

 regard it as a mistake. I thought the best thing I could do was to 

 order a few trees of every variety in every fruit agent's book. In a 

 few years I had every kind of fruit known. Of one man I ordered two 

 hundred trees — two each of one hundred kinds. When they come 

 some of them had two labels on them. In a lot that were to be all Ben 

 Davis we find, to our surprise, there is a greater variety of kinds than 

 in the other lot. Among them you will find green apples, yellow 

 apples, red apples, sour apples, sweet apples, summer apples, fall apples 

 and winter apples. I don't, think this was a mistake. I have come to the 

 conclusion that many apples flourish in the agent's plate-book that 

 grow nowhere else. Now, I am planting seed myself, and cutting 

 grafts from a neighbor's orchard. Here is a sample of an apple, from 

 the lot bought for Ben Davis, that will keep eighteen months. I 

 would like to learn its name. 



Mr. Ambrose — I presume that is one of your Ben Davis. 



" The Mound Builders," a very excellent paper upon the mound 

 Ijuilders, was read by President Pattisou, of Carthage college. A val- 

 uable collection of facts about that ancient people, and very interest- 

 ing and readable. 



A recitation, "The Pauper Abroad," by Miss Minnie Bififer, of Car- 

 thage, was peculiarly well rendered. 



INFLUENCE OF FLOWERS. 



Flowers have a eympathetic language, which appeals directly to the subtle 

 senses of the soul. They teach purity of life and exalt to nobility the human heart. 

 They seem as essential to spiritual growth as fresh air and sunshine are to physical 

 development. They inspire and brighten a home more, perhaps, than any other 

 external influence, and are so modest in their ministration that it is no wonder they 

 are so universally loved and cultivated. A home without these floral treasures 

 always suggests a home without care, or one unblest by the tender influence of 

 love. 



