462 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



observing the difference between a well-kept garden and a neglected 

 one. 



Lessons in neatness, accuracy and nicety of workmanship can be 

 encouraged by pressing, drawing and, still further, painting the 

 flower he is familiar with. 



A poem on the flower from the pen of some gifted poet gives 

 him a glance into good literature that teaches him the thoughts of 

 cultured minds on things that have become familiar to him and, on 

 account of their correlation with his own handiwork, are personally 

 enjoyed. 



Flowers teach a lesson of unselfishness, for they do not bloom 

 for one alone ; all lovers of flowers know the desire to send or give 

 their bright, fragrant blossoms to some friend. The other day my 

 neighbor sent her little girl with a box that contained a beautiful 

 blossom of a Japanese lily. She wrote in a note that she had en- 

 joyed it for a day, and she must send it to me for, as she expressed it, 

 she wanted me to have joy in its beauty, too. 



The influence of the flowers is felt by the whole family. What 

 real boy with his rough and tumble antics is not toned down and 

 ready to have his face washed and hair combed if he may carry to 

 his teacher a handful of fragrant blush roses? 



Is it not worth while to direct the daughter in arranging a 

 centerpiece for the table that she may know harmony of color and 

 dainty selection? Is not a few minutes out in the early morning 

 among your flowers a good starter for a busy day ? 



The farm mother needs flowers. Her life is often lonely — 

 they become her friends ; she is often discouraged — they teach her 

 hope and faith, they give an inspiration. I had a long bed of 

 zinnias last summer, and had to pass them every time I went to the 

 well. It was an oft repeated pleasure to see the mass of many col- 

 ored blossoms. They seemed to say, "It is fine to be here," and I 

 simply couldn't scold when they looked so cheery. It happened that 

 we had a big family that summer, and I had to go to the well many 

 times ; so the zinnia bed paid. 



The chrysanthemums started in my summer garden are now 

 brightening our rooms with their many blossoms. As one comes 

 into the room the exclamation is, "Oh, how lovely !" Quite a few 

 Thanksgiving dinner tables had a bowl from these fringy chrysan- 

 themums to add pleasure to the occasion, and it was in the farm 

 home, where flowers were hard to get. 



