THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF XEW YORK 



that is to be derived from study and observation of the life of the 

 country, its soil, trees, plants, animals and insects, all of which are so in- 

 timately associated with country life, and all of which are so essential for 

 successful cooperation with the land. Our teaching in the public schools 

 has failed to give this helpful aid to young people to recognize the value 

 of the development of opportunity about them, especially in our rural 

 schools ; and it has not been discovered and appreciated by them until 

 years afterward, when out of the struggles that have to be encountered 

 for existence and rational living in cities, that the land really furnishes 

 opportunity such as is impossible to reach in the work of the city. 

 Cities have taken the lead in this kind of education. 



Nature-teaching has been introduced in city schools. Children's gar- 

 dens have been made possible where thousands of children have had 

 opportunity to receive instruction in planting seeds, in the culture of 

 plants, and in seeing, as the result of their study and work, flowers and 

 vegetables brought to their complete development and fruition. Courses 

 in agriculture are being added in high schools, but lessons in nature- 

 study should be given in every school. 



In addition to the teaching of nature-study in the schools, and of chil- 

 dren's gardens in the city, horticultural societies have done most valuable 

 service in the field of scientific horticultural education. The Horticultural 

 Society of New York, through its public discussions, its published re- 

 ports, and its monthly exhibits of plants and flowers, is doing educa- 

 tional work in horticulture which is having influence upon many of those 

 who attend its meetings and exhibitions, by inspiring in them a desire to 

 know more about this line of work that has in it so much of interest. 

 When over 90,000 people have shown interest to visit the recent very 

 beautiful exhibit of chrysanthemums and other flowers at the American 

 Museum of Natural History on a Sunday afternoon, and during the three 

 days over 130,000 took in the exhibit of the most beautiful flowers that 

 are produced — it is little wonder that there are many who, in addition 

 to being delighted with the great beauty of such exhibits, are caused to 

 think of the possibilities of acquiring land and of attempting to make it 

 produce, not only flowers, but other necessities of life. Through horti- 

 cultural education, flowers to many have become as much a necessity in 

 daily life as fruits. 



Never has there been so general an awakening and interest in country 

 life as at the present time. In the very wide movement that has set in 

 toward the ownership of land and cooperation with the soil in making it 

 productive, there is surprising interest in the development of different 

 lines of horticultural work. 



In a very great number of instances, among the questions asked by 

 those who desire to purchase land and to establish homes in the country 

 are these: Is there an apple orchard to be had? Is the soil suitable for 

 growing vegetables? What are the opportunities for the culture of small 

 fruits and flowers? This is the natural outcome of the exhibitions of 



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