REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 347 



HORTICULTURE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 



How well I remember the days long ago when mother sent me out to pull 

 weeds in the garden, or to trim out the berry patch. Sent me out; yes, that's 

 the right word. Did ever any of you, in your youthful days, go out 

 whistling or singing to the weed — I mean to the garden or berry patch — and 

 not wish that Adam and Eve had not transgressed, and received that terrible 

 sentence " In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." 



Horticulture was the first and highest calling of man. No weeds nor 

 thorns were there. Fruit was good and plenty : All that was required of man 

 was to keep and dress the vineyard. Nothing but pleasure. No pain or sor- 

 row. Oh, Mother Eve! if you could only have pulled weeds a few hours on a 

 hot, sunshiny day, when the ground was hard, the shady woods near by, when 

 birds were singing songs we might have sung but for you, and the sparkling 

 brook just beyond, abounding with imaginary trout lying lazily with mouth 

 half open, ready for the worm — I say, Mother Eve, would you have done it? 

 Ain't you sorry? 



Well, the weeds, thorns, and thistles are here. The question is, how are we 

 going to get the young people interested in the fight? There is no such thing 

 as interesting young people pulling weeds or trimming trees. There is no pleas- 

 ure in it. You have got to point them to the result of their labor. That 

 won't do either. You have got to let them feel the result, right in their pock- 

 ets. " Boy's calf and dad's steer won't do." Give them groiind for a row or 

 two of berries. Show them how to plant and tend. Encourage them all the 

 way through. If they do well the first year give them a little more ground the 

 next; not too much; this tends to discourage. Give them a few trees. Let 

 them do their own setting and pruning. Teach them (if you can) to labor and 

 to wait. If they bring in their first fruit rejoicing, there is hope; if not, you 

 will have to adopt other methods. Don't use the children's fruit without pay- 

 ing them for it. If it is to be sold, assist them in making the sales, and give 

 the total proceeds. How to interest the young in horticulture or agriculture 

 is a difficult problem. The boy will make kites, carts, drive nails, tear 

 machinery to pieces, or drive team all day long, and call it sport. Point him 

 to the rows of beets or strawberries that need his attention, and all his joy is 

 turned to sorrow. If it's an all day's job, without any consideration, it's just 

 so long imprisonment, and unless he is afraid of punishment, the work will 

 not be well done. So many hours' work, with an after-play consideration, some- 

 times meets with success. Or so much a row, if the work is well done, may 

 awaken an interest. Teach them to do their work well. Give them plenty of 

 praise and encouragement. Is there a person here who was interested in hor- 

 ticulture at the age of twelve or fifteen years? If so, please give us your 

 experience. Is there one here who loves horticulture now? If so, how long 

 have you been thus interested; how did you learn? Is there a man here whose lov- 

 ing wife coaxes in April, scolds in May, and drives in June, to get even a vegeta- 

 ble garden? If so, let us hear from him. If there is any way to get young, 

 or old people either, downright interested in horticulture, let us find it out. 



Mr. Hough remarked the necessity for encouraging the children by allowing 

 the use of a piece of ground and encourage them to give it good care. 



The secretary stated that there was a large amount of fruit on the table that 

 it was desirable to have eaten. After the fruit was passed, Miss Sheffield was 

 introduced, and sang a solo entitled the " Mowers' song." 



