HORTICULTURAL SUGGESTIONS. 197 



foot of earth is the veritable apothecary shop of nature, where the most 

 intricate prescriptions and formulae are are filled with unvarying preci- 

 sion. 



Last spring I had had occsicn to move a clump of perennials on my 

 lawn. There were three plants closely interwoven — a phlox, rudbekia 

 and a paeony. Upon lifting the clump it was found that the roots were 

 closely and almost inseperably intertwined. Each plant had been de- 

 riving the particular material from the same black soil that was needful 

 in its cell structure; each plant performed its natural function, each grew 

 and blossomed and produced its particular kind of foliage and flowers. 

 But who will say how the rudbekia drew the golden color from the soil, 

 how the phlox found its pure white blossoms, how the velvety rose of 

 the paeony, and especially the fragrance of the two latter, were extract- 

 ed from the few handfuls of clammy dirt? If you want to be a philoso- 

 pher, a scientist, a man of learning and a student, grow plants and trees 

 and flowers. 



Fruit culture admits of intensive methods. A small area will give 

 immense returns both in pleasure and in profit. You don't have to have 

 a big farm upon which to raise fruit and flowers. We hear of $500 

 net being made from an acre of strawberries, not in Texas or Maine, but 

 in Nebraska. Average annual returns from apple orchards exceeding 

 any ordinary farm crop. 



I have often marveled at our wastefulness. No richer soil can be 

 found anywhere than here in Nebraska ; and yet how much of it lies ab- 

 solutely unused and unproductive. Take a drive through any of our 

 splendid cities or villages of which we are so proud, and observe how 

 many vacant lots are abandoned to the growth of obnoxious weeds, tin 

 cans, coal ashes, decrep-it machinery. In fact, these lots become the 

 hospital for the flotsam and jetsam and the cast-off debris of civiliza- 

 tion. Imagine how many potatoes and cabbages, currants, gooseberries, 

 raspberries, and other small fruits might be raised on these self-same 

 lots. 



Some years ago the enterprising mayor of Detroit observed all this. 

 He banded the boys and girls together, and you have all read of the 

 marvelous results that were attained. 



In the vacation time parents are hard put to find something for the 

 boys to do; but let me tell you how to solve this problem. Help the boys 

 to clean up the vacant ground just back of the house. Help them to 

 care for a vegetable and fruit garden: make a mental note of the bene- 

 ficial results to the boys, and observe how it decreases table expanses 

 and adds to your sum of human happiness. Yes, the boy may play foot- 

 ball if he will, but if he works some in the*garden you will always find 

 him on the winning side at the ball game. He will be a leader, for he 

 will have a stentorian voice and iron muscles that will shame the boy 

 that smokes cigarettes and parades the streets, filling the air with fumes 

 of "Duke's Mixture." 



