THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK 



ment, and it has been a very great disappointment to me personally 

 that, for the moment, this work has to be laid aside. All that 

 stretch of country that we had thought to work and make once 

 again productive is, also, being fought over as it was fought over 

 in the beginning of the war. ]\Irs. Lathrop and I have congratu- 

 lated each other that work there has not actually been commenced, 

 for it would in that case have been time and money wasted, as 

 time and money have been wasted in a reconstructive work in 

 other sections of the country. As it is, the money is safe in the 

 bank and we are holding ourselves in readiness to do whatever 

 you may wish us to do when conditions will permit. 



I think that it may interest you to know what I did do, while 

 it was still uncertain whether we could carry on your work this 

 spring, and with that work in mind. I went into parts of France 

 where travel is permitted at present (and it is with difficulty that 

 one may get necessary papers for ajiy part of France these days) 

 and visited more than fifty farms, many orchards and vineyards. 

 I met and talked with some of the most prominent agriculturists 

 in France and was not only highly entertained myself, but suc- 

 ceeded in arousing much interest in some American ways. I 

 really was astonished to find out how we lead in certain depart- 

 ments of agriculture, and also with eagerness landowners are 

 looking for any suggestions that will help them to better condi- 

 tions. Some of these men, I feel sure, will never forget what I 

 told them about hog raising, or how we feel in America about 

 having a window for each animal in a building. In Perigord 

 these men are talking of making plans for an agricultural school 

 as soon as the war is over. 



The newspapers, no doubt, have kept you rather well informed 

 as to what is going on here and no one, however blase, could think 

 life in Paris dull these days. Just to manage to keep on living is 

 an interesting occupation, day and night, between air-raids and 

 bombardments. 



I am sure, too, that you will be interested to hear something 

 of the work that the American Fund for French Wounded has 

 been doing, under our far-seeing leader, Mrs. Lathrop, in the 

 emergencies of the day. 



The wounded have been coming from the front in terrifying 



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