THE ETHICS OF HORTICULTURE. 209 



THE ETHICS OF HORTICULTURE. 



KEV. C. S. HARRISON. 



Plato and Aristotle give a good definition of ethics, — "The perfect 

 development of a man's self in moral and intellectual excellence." 

 As a means to this end we will look at horticulture. We want to get 

 all the good we can out of it. It is not a matter merely of dollars 

 and cents. We want to lift it above the plane of hogs and corn and 

 unfold its grand mission, that it may make the world healthier^ bettei', 

 and elevate it. 



Too often, if a man knows how to insert a graft or put in a bud, he 

 is called a horticulturist. But the field is vast; it covers the world, 

 and gives study for a lifetime. It reaches from the useful up to the 

 beautiful. While it gives to the pocket it also ministers to the soul. 

 The horticulturist is the high priest of Nature — admitted into her 

 sanctuary, at home in her holy of holies. He is co-worker with God, 

 the senior partner furnishing the capital while the other does the work. 

 This makes a strong firm, as the man goes forth on his mission to 

 make the world better and more beautiful. The man helps God give 

 expression to his own plans and purposes for advancing the ^yorld's 

 weal. 



They tell of a London pugilist who was soundly converted. He 

 hadn't a great deal to bring as he crossed the dividing line, but he took 

 his pluck and muscle with him and in his own peculiar way conse- 

 crated them to the new cause. One night a company of roughs came 

 in to disturb the meeting. Somebody went up to the minister and 

 told him that Tom was making it lively out in the entrance. He 

 hurried to the scene, and the stalwart convert was laying the foe right 

 and left. Three or four were in a battered and dazed condition. 

 " Oh," said he, " Tom ! Tom ! the Bible says, ' Vengeance is mine, I 

 will repay, saith the Lord.' " " Yes," said Tom, as he dealt the bully 

 of the crowd a staggering blow, "and I'se just a helping the Lord to 

 give 'em vengeance, and now," said he, " lads, I'se got a new Master 

 and I ain't going to see Him insulted, nuther," and with that he led 



