OUR NATIONAL FLOWER. 385 



in stone. The coloring, in oil and water colors, as we all know, at all 

 seasons is most artistic. At the time of the building of the national 

 capitol, through the influence of Thomas Jefferson, some of the 

 pillars in the building were capped with designs of the maize. If 

 we could have our states take a favorite flower and make it theirs 

 by law, as a few have, we could have a national bouquet or wreath 

 and then our emblem, the Indian corn. It would be worthy of our 

 beautiful land. At one time, a friend wrote to the horticultural so- 

 ciety of each state in regard to their state flowers. Not many had 

 adopted one, but all answered as much interested to do so. Kansas 

 has the sunflower, New York the rose, Minnesota has the moccasin 

 flower, by some called "Lady's Slipper." All states have a favorite, 

 and if interest were awakened would make it lawfully theirs. The 

 subject of the Indian corn for a national emblem has been agitated — 

 can not our Minnesota State Horticultural Society help the move- 

 ment in some wav? 



EFFECTIVE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE HOME GROUNDS 

 WITH THE SMALLEST EXPENDITURE OF MONEY. 



ROY UNDERWOOD, I,AKE CITY. 



It is somewhat surprising to note how many homes confine their 

 improvement, so far as decorative — yes, and even economic art is 

 concerned, to the inside of the house. This condition is noticed 

 not only in the town and city homes, where only a limited space is 

 left for the yard, but is also evident in very many cases where there 

 is practically unlimited space. There are several logical reasons 

 to account for this. The chief one, perhaps, is, that women com- 

 bine, to a greater degree than men, the qualities of taste for artistic 

 arrangement and practical knowledge of its application ; to which 

 fact, the interior of the home, therefore, bears complete evidence. 

 Whenever you find a woman taking an interest in the production 

 of natural effects on the lawn and in the garden, you find at once 

 a taste in arrangement equalling that displayed inside the domicile. 

 Another reason for the apparent neglect of the improvement of the 

 home grounds here in the north is the comparatively short season 

 in which improvements in the horticultural line can be enjoyed, our 

 winters being long and the summers short. But if this fact does 

 have any material bearing on the question, it is because of a general 

 lack of knowledge as to how permanent improvements may be best 

 made. 



As the thought here expressed is addressed to people living in 

 the northern states, and in view of the fact that our winter season 



