534 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



CHILDREN'S HORTICULTURE. 



Flowers and School Children. — In an interesting paper on flowers 

 generally James Vick stated that last year he planted twenty beds of foliage 

 plants, roses, etc., on each side of a new street where many children passed 

 to school. His friends thought few flowers would escape, but the only 

 trouble he had after planting in the spring was from some grown people 

 under the cover of night ! 



'& j 



A note in Our Country Home supplements the above item very nicely : If 

 you haven't the time at command to attend to many flowers don't make that 

 a reason for going without any. Plant a few in some location where you 

 can see them while you are about your work. They are the best of com- 

 panions. They will ask for little care — just a few minutes' attention now 

 and then in pulling up the weeds among them and stirring the soil — and 

 the enjoyment you will get from them will repay you tenfold for all the care 

 you give them. Coax the children into growing them. Let each one have 

 a bed of his or her own and stimulate a healthy rivalry among them in 

 taking care of them. This work will educate the boys and girls, help 

 develop a love of the beautiful, and keep them out of a good deal of mischief, 

 and they will enjoy it if you once get them interested in it. Try it. 



Juvenile Gardening. — Quartus A. Brother, in the New York Tribune, 

 chats about the value of interesting the little people in gardening. He 

 says: 



Promoting inclination for plant-culture in young people deserves the 

 serious attention of all parents who desire that their children shall enjoy 

 life, avoid evil, and live long in the land. We find no such green old age 

 as that which attends those who spend much time in the open air, exercising 

 regularly and pleasantly their muscles and their minds in the care of objects 

 in the growth or movement of which they take interest, whether for agreea- 

 ble recreation or for pecuniary return. 



While flowers supply an ever-varying and endless source of pleasure, they 

 gratify only the senses of sight and of smell, added to the delight we naturally 

 take in prducing beauty and sharing with friends. Fruits supply all these, 

 and in addition they gratify and appease that continually arising eagerness 

 in the young to taste and eat. An August-planted strawberry bed is proba- 

 bly the best selection that can be made for imparting to children a partiality 

 for garden pursuits. 



A little company I know of have each such a small bed planted last sum- 

 mer and they are now enjoying fine fruit of their own growing and congratu- 

 lating themselves on the results of their industry and care. Very little 



