TWENTY FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING. 91 



Many more interesting operations in horticulture might be named, such 

 as irrigation, fertilization, and cultivation of the soil and preparing it 

 for the seed. But time will not permit. Enough has been said to empha- 

 size the importance of our subject along the lines already mentioned. 



We believe that every professional man will find it to his advantage to 

 tiave something to engage him in his leisure hours, or furnish pastime for 

 his weary soul and body. Every man should have something else to do, 

 some ''side issue" to relieve the strain of professional requirements, 

 something for a change which will furnish recreation and rest. Many a 

 literary man has been tempted to resort to some narcotic or stimulant to 

 relieve his weary brain when overburdened with professional care. 

 There are times when the lawyer should cast aside his brief, the doctor 

 forget his patients, the minister lay down his pen, and the teacher get the 

 schoolhouse off his back, and each unbend himself. What we all need is 

 a new sensation, a fresh inspiration. That is just the time when we 

 should spend an hour in our gardens among the plants and flowers. 



The writer has often, when tired of the dull routine of the class-room 

 and the vexations of discipline, found the "'balm of Gilead" in his garden. 

 On many an occasion, while in his garden, with coat off and perspira- 

 tion running down his face, he has been approached by a stranger who 

 inquired, "Can you tell me where I could find the president of the col- 

 lege?" You can imagine his surprise and disappointment when he found 

 the dignity he was searching for so near by. 



Perhaps no better example of our theory could be cited, where it has 

 been thoroughly practiced, than in the case of the great English premier, 

 the Right Honorable William E. Gladstone. His invariable custom is 

 to resort to manual labor for a change after his long periods of hard men- 

 tal strain. Felling trees, and exercise in his gardens and parks, are his 

 favorite occupations, in the interim of his public duties. This fact will 

 abundantly account for his vigor and his long, active life of usefulness. 

 His example is no exception among the English and German nobility. 

 Bismarck, Von Moltke, and the Emperor himself turned to manual labor 

 for a period of rest. 



It was the privilege of the writer, at one time, back in the sixties, to 

 visit the estate of the Lord of Rosse of Parsonstown, Ireland. The object 

 of this visit was to see the great reflecting telescope. When we were 

 ushered into those beautiful grounds, we found Lord Rosse, like other 

 men at work, common and approachable as a child. He made our visit 

 exceedingly pleasant and profitable. We were shown his great reflector, 

 the speculum of which he made himself in his own shop in the basement 

 of his castle. He showed us also a large overshot water-wheel which he 

 constructed to raise water for irrigating purposes and for the fountains 

 in his park. Here we found a man of the nobility, of scientific and pub- 

 lic distinction, who found his greatest enjoyment while at work on his 

 home estate. 



Finally,, we believe there is no branch of industry that presents that 

 variety of exercise suited to the different sides of our nature like horticul- 

 ture. The man of sedentary habits can find here both profit and pleas- 

 ure. He will realize in his garden the exhilerating influence of work in 

 the open air, and that recreation which brings to him renewed enjoy- 

 ment of life. The moral and esthetic sides will also be satisfied as he 



