424 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Tlic tree of knowledge occurs in popular lore. In north Germany, 

 when the ma.ster dies, some one must go into the garden and stand un- 

 der a tree and say: "Master is dead," for, if the tree is not informed, 

 there will be another death. An Ojibway tale represents a tree as whis- 

 pering a tale of love to a certain maiden who dedicates herself to it, dies, 

 and is often seen wandering in the forest. According to a Maori myth, 

 heaven and earth were once joined in an embrace so close that their 

 children had no place to dwell. But Tanemahuta, father of trees, pushed 

 them asunder with his branches. These ideas concerning the divinity of 

 trees led to their worship in primitive times. 



In the deepest groves abide the gods. Primitive nations inhabited 

 the forest, and the tree was their first shelter. The center of the early 

 Greek as well as ot the Teutonic dwelling was a tree, around which 

 spread the house. Groves were the first temples, and the Gothic church 

 is but a grove turned into stone. In old German dialects, temple and 

 grove are the same word. Tree worship was the foundation of Ger- 

 manic and Celtic religion. Down to the introduction of Christianity in 

 the north, the deities were worshipped in sacred groves, and on the 

 boughs of the trees hung the heads of sacrificed animals. As late as the 

 eleventh century trees were worshipped in many places. The Druids as 

 is well known, worshipped and sacrificed in groves, and the oak was a 

 sacred tree to them. — F. F. B as sett in Globe-Democrat. 



Dispense with walks and drives, except when they are required for 

 the daily comfort of your family. Eschew rustic ornaments, unless of 

 the most substantial and unshowy character and in shadozvy locations. 

 Avoid spotting your lawn wnth garish carpentry, or plaster or marble 

 images of any kind, or those caricatures on nature and art, called rock- 

 work, and, finally, by the exquisite keeping of what you have, endeavor 

 to create an atmosphere of refinement about your place. — Frank J. 

 Scott. 



FLOWER LAWN. 



Now, turn to the flower lawn. Every land owner should have one; 

 not a few beds stuck about in the grass for his wife and daughters to get 

 misery out of, with a few flowers as part compensation. Find the neat- 

 est plot, the prettiest for shrubs and the nicest for seats and walks. Place 

 a driveway around it, or hedge it in with evergreens, and devote it to 

 shrubs and flowers. Cut beds and make them large, and do not begrudge 

 manure of the best. Five or six beds will be enough to begin with, add 

 more when needed. Send for roses, gladiolus, geraniums, and plants 



