86 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



This may sound like a mere sentiment, and may appear to have no place 

 among the realities of existence; in one sense, this is conceded, but it is only la 

 the sense that most of the best things known to the world of humanity are foundetf^ 

 upon just this kind of sentimentality. 



Love, hope, faith and charity, and all that forms the realities and religion, are 

 founded upon sentiment. Music, art and literature are fostered by it, and the 

 more of true and beautiful sentiment there is in our nature, the more helpful and 

 pure will our lives become. 



The more cultured and refined a human being becomes, the more will that 

 being appreciate the marvels of loveliness displayed in the flower world. There 

 has never been a date in the history of creation when these gentle ministers were 

 wholly ignored. 



The very names given to some of the older varieties suggest to us the love ' 

 for flowers of men and women long since forgotten by the inhabitants of earth. 

 "Forget-me-nots" a'hd "Hearts-ease," what tender and suggestive names are 

 these for floral treasures. 



The Savior advised His followers to "Consider the lilies," and the lessons 

 taught by these silent instructors are many, and of the greatest benefit. 



A street fight in New York was suspended last fall because John Habberton 

 happened to pass by with a bunch of wild flowers in his hand just when the bellig- 

 erents were coming to blows; all the sad life of one of the worst city streets was 

 temporarily softened and made brighter by a bouquet of field flowers. The plea, 

 " Please, mister, give me a flower," held in its tones so much pathetic anxiety that 

 the author gave away the flowers that he had taken a great deal of time and trouble 

 to gather for a special friend. And be remarks, in closing the recital of this inci- 

 dent, "1 am now a firm believer in flower missions." To inspire a human heart 

 with a genuine appreciation of the beautiful is worthy the best efforts of the most 

 cultured minds. 



Ruskin has written many chapters to prove that the beautiful is as useful and 

 as helpful as that which is merely practical. The influence of beauty cannot be 

 too highly extolled ; it is elevating and ennobling to an eminent degree. Prophets,, 

 poets and preachers have exhausted metaphor in the vain endeavor to portray the 

 glories of paradise, and in one thing all are agreed, and it is that there are fadeless 

 flowers growing and eternally blooming in the celestial city. 



An effort to grow fadeless flowers here has only resulted ia those brilliant,, 

 scentless blossoms named "Immortelles," ;and which, though pretty to look at, 

 suggest nothing of the eternal world which lies beyond mortal knowledge. In 

 studying the "natural world," as this incomprehensible sphere of ours is termed,. 

 we arrive at all the obtainable knowledge there is for us concerning the mysterious- 

 land beyond our natural vision. 



The love and mercy of our divine Creator seems exemplified in the variety and 

 fragrance of the flowers everywhere growing in such radiant profusion. The 

 man who despises flowers is out of harmony with a'l that is most glorious and 

 soul-inspiring in the universe. 



This great American nation has not yet decided on a national flower ; per- 

 sonal taste so differs that it seems impossible to arrive at a decison, but the apple 

 blossom, which has been chosen by many local, and some State Horticultural 

 Societies, seems the most sensible suggestion, because it is native to America, and 

 the sweetest and one of the most delicately beautiful in creation, besides typifying 

 that union of the useful and the beautiful, so graphically depicted by Ruskin. Or,. 

 if fancy pleases, a type of both spiritual and physical perfection. The influence 



