SUMMER MEETING AT OREGON. 101 



field." Among the thousands who admire flowers how feiv consider 

 them .'' It is only these few, however, who do consider and study them 

 that really love them, and to whom they reveal their utmost loveliness. 



Some people live surrounded by plants and flowers all their lives 

 without making any accurate observation of them. Yet this study of the 

 nature and habits of plants and the best methods of cultivating them, 

 is one of the most attractive that can be pursued — 



" This is an art 

 Which docs mend nature, change it rather; but 

 The art itself is nature." 



By means of study and observation, a great change has taken place 

 in the flower kingdom. Old varieties, by special care and cultivation, 

 have been very much improved, and by the methods of fertilization, hy- 

 bridizing and cross-breeding, new varieties have been originated, 

 differing in appearance from each other and from the original flower. 

 We can see an astonishing improvement when we compare our florist's 

 flowers of the present time with drawings made only twenty or thirty 

 years ago. It has taken many long years of skillful cultivation to bring 

 them to their present standard of development. But even the oldest of 

 our cultivated plants still produce new varieties. 



With the knowledge gained by the experience of the past, and the 

 interest that is being awakened in this branch of study, we may expect 

 to see surprising results accomplished in the next few years. There is 

 still a vast field largely unexplored, in which to study and experiment. 

 This science of perfecting old varieties of flowers and originating 

 new, is not confined to scientists alone, but is open to all who love 

 flowers and have a knowledge of their individual peculiarities. The cul- 

 tivation of plants and flowers is indeed an ancient art. The Greeks and 

 Romans prized their beds of violets, roses and other fragrant flowers 

 very highly. A great many botanical gardens were established in dif- 

 ferent places during the sixteenth century. 



The one founded by Henry IV, at Montpelier, in France, contained 

 over 1300 French. Alpine and Pyrean plants. 



But the special cultivation of particular plants was first extensively 

 engaged in by the Dutch, at the beginning of the seventeenth century. 

 From the Netherlands, a passion for it has spread to other countries. 

 But it is still from liolland that the market of the world is chiefly sup- 

 plied with its bulbs. An extraordinary flower mania prevailed there in 

 the seventeenth century, especially in regard to tulips. Bulbs were 

 bought and sold for fabulous prices. Thirteen thousand florins was once 

 paid for a single bulb of a prized variety. 



