78 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



this labor and tremendous expense for a few flowers? Of course you will 

 say for the money that they bring, but why do they bring money? 



There is a deeper sentiment in the growing of flowers than money. 

 The custom of using flowers at festivities and at various occasions as ex- 

 pressions of sentiments, has existed since the time of ages. Only in the 

 last thirtj^-five or fifty years have they been cultivated to any great extent. 



In former years they were plucked from meadows, rocks, and hill, in 

 their natural state in various countries. 



Now we have them gathered and grouped from all parts of the world. 

 From the tropics, and semi-tropics as well as the arctic zones. We supply 

 them with their various needs all under the sun that brings out the luster 

 and colors that charm the eyes of all mankind. 



We wake over them at night, guarding them against the cold blast of 

 winds that are ready to nip their buds, we feed them, we water them, we 

 guard them against insects and diseases. What do we do all this for? 



We do it to bring out the beauty, the fragrance, and the sentiments 

 which can be expressed through these flowers at the various occasions of 

 life. There is nothing that appeals more to the hearts of all mankind, no 

 matter how hardened a criminal he may be, than a little flower plucked 

 in all its simplicity, beauty, and fragrance, as a token of Nature's most 

 beautiful and innocent emblems, or of a mother's memory when she so 

 dearly cared for them when we in childish glee tottered at her knees. 



There is a charm within these petals that speaks of a life beyond. 

 From childdhood's sunny morning to the mellow light of ripe old age, 

 flowers are the tokens of love, the emblems of innocence, and the min- 

 isters of happiness from the cradle to the grave. 



We use them to cheer the sick and those in distress. Many a tiiut. 

 have I seen tears of joy and gratitude extended in return for only a little 

 bunch of flowers sent to a friend whose heart seems to have been broken 

 through sickness and life's struggles. As the poet says, "Save not your 

 kisses for my cold brows; if you have any favors give them to me now." 



We grow them to decorate or charm our homes, our parks, our boule- 

 A'^ards, our driveways, as an inspiration to Nature's most glorious and 

 luxurious forms. 



We grow them to scatter to our friends. We grow them to inspire 

 the wayward to live a more beautiful life. There is nothing that inspires 

 or draws a person's mind more near to Nature's God than flowers, or 

 softens or soothes the heart, than flowers. 



A young couple were courting and of course had a little love spat. 

 They met. She said, "I thank you for the flowers you sent me," she 

 smiled and blushed and hung her head and said, "I am sorry for the words 

 I spoke, but now I know your heart is right, I want you to forgive me." 

 And of course he did. But as they walked and talked through the shady 

 bov/ers, he wondered who in the world sent her those flowers. 



With many another example of similar nature, where a bunch of 

 flowers have softened wrath, and brought love, happiness, and sunshine 

 into the hearts and home. 



