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H0ET1CULTUBE 



December 13, 1919 



HORTICULTURE 



Established by William J. Ktriviirt In 1004 



VOL. XXX 



DECEMBER 13, 1919 



No. 24 



PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY 



HORTICULTURE PUBL1SHINC COMPANY 

 78 Devonshire Street, Boston, Mass. 



EDWARD I. FARRINGTON, Editor. 

 Telephone Fort Hill 3I>«4 



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Entered as second-class matter December 8. 1»04, ut the Tost OtHce 

 at Boston. Mass., under the Act of Congress of March 3, 181)7. 



In all the billboard discussion which has 

 Billboards b ee n carried on through tbe columns of 

 Houticultuke and which has brought out 

 some pretty vigorously expressed opinions pro and con, it 

 does not appear that those taking opposite sides on the 

 issue are really very far apart after all. The florists, 

 as well as Mr. McFarland and others who have sup- 

 ported his views, agree that there are places where bill- 

 boards would be a disgrace, and billboards which in 

 themselves are worthy all the condemnation which may 

 be heaped upon them. The facts seem to be that those 

 who express themselves in opposition to billboards are 

 thinking as a rule of the gaudy, poorly executed and in- 

 artistic signs which are often seen along the railroads 

 and other much traveled routes. Now there can be no 

 doubt that signboards of this kind merit whatever cen- 

 sure may be bestowed upon them. We have seen bill- 

 boards which would not be approved by the most lenient 

 censors. We have also seen billboards which in them- 

 selves are actually artistic and so placed that they hide 

 objects which would otherwise disfigure the landscape. 

 It appears, therefore, that the bill board, per se, is not 

 necessarily an evil. All depends upon the character of 

 the sign and the way in which it is used. 



This is the first editorial expression which Horticul- 

 ture has given concerning this matter, and it is with 

 pleasure that we note an editorial in the Florists' Ex- 

 change which takes much the same point of view. There 

 can be no question of the sincerity of Mr. McFarland 

 and many other good people who have waged' bitter war- 

 fare on billboards in general for many years. To the 

 extent that they have assailed such advertising mediums 

 when they are badly done or so placed that they spoil an 

 otherwise beautiful landscape their efforts are to be 

 commended. It is to be hoped and expected that flor- 

 ists, who have a keen appreciation of the beautiful and 

 of nature's handiwork, will refrain from the placing of 

 signboards where they can arouse criticism. The boards 

 themselves as put out by Secretary Young's office are so 

 ornamental as to disarm criticism at the start. It is 

 conceivable that they may be used oftentimes in such a 

 way as to cover up sights which offend the eye and so 

 serve a genuine esthetic purpose. We hope that the 

 distinction between billboards which are bad in them- 

 selves and placed without regard to the public interest 

 and those which are conceived and executed in the best 



of taste and placed with a full appreciation of the pub- 

 lic's right to attractive views will not be overlooked. 

 Apparently some of the critics have not realized that 

 there are billboards which are offensive and that florists 

 in general may be depended upon to use them in situ- 

 ations where no protest can be expected. 



Possibly the discussion has had a greater value than 

 has been realized. In any event it has brought out a 

 greater number of diverse views than were perhaps 

 thought to exist, and it may result in a movement that 

 in the end will please and benefit even those who, like 

 Mr. McFarland, have been honest but severe critics of 

 billboards in general. 



One of the daily papers makes the follow- 

 Holiday j n g interesting comment <n changing the 

 dates Date for Thanksgiving: "In commenting 

 upon the suggestion that the date of our 

 annual Thanksgiving Day be changed to the Thursday 

 nearest Armistice Day, November 11, we overlooked the 

 fact that as early as April 23 of this year Strawbridge 

 & Clothier, of Philadelphia, in one of their advertise- 

 ments advocated such a change, suggesting November 11 

 as a permanent date for Thanksgiving. This was in 

 ample time to have the suggestion adopted for the pres- 

 ent year, and it is to be regretted that it wa3 not fol- 

 lowed, but the idea is so good that it surely will meet 

 with general approval, and next year 3hould see Thanks- 

 giving Day start upon its permanent association with 

 the end of the world war." 



If such a change were made the flcwer trade would 

 certainly appreciate it, as it would give them a longer 

 breathing spell to get ready for the next holiday — Christ- 

 mas. As it is now the two holidays come too close 

 together for comfort. 



"Why is it we do not have organized 

 Autumn pilgrimage excursions to view the wonderful 

 mountain autumn scenery of our 

 Massachusetts hills and the mountains of New Hamp- 

 shire?" That is a question propounded by Thomas 

 Dreier in "The Blue Flower" published by Henry Penn. 

 The question is one which might well be echoed all over 

 the country. For some reason Americans fail to appre- 

 ciate as they should the opportunities which they have to 

 enjoy nature at its best. It is a fact that nowhere in the 

 world are autumn colors so rich and gorgeous as in New 

 England. It would seem as though institutions like the 

 Arnold Arboretum should be crowded with people on 

 bright autumn days, eager to see the wonderful display 

 of nature's handiwork, perhaps repeating the poet's 

 lines: 

 "Who can paint like Nature? Can imagination boast. 



Amid its gay creations, hues like these?" 



"The Blue Flower" goes on to elaborate this thought 

 in the following words, to which we say amen : 



"Wiser than we in many ways, the Japanese have 

 excursions of this kind. Professor Ernest H. Wilson of 

 our own Arnold Arboretum says in October when the 

 woods assume their autumn splendor children from 

 primary and secondary schools, high schools and col- 

 leges with their teachers and professors make excur- 

 sions of three or four days' duration to the noted place 

 and revel in the feast of color. 



"Even the railways issue cheap tickets and from all 

 the large towns and cities children, youths and maidens 

 journey to the mountain woods. 



"One trip into the autumn woods will give one enough 

 beautv to last all winter." 



