446 SEMI-CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY. 



tive phlox, which was like a wild, hardy Indian maiden, has been 

 transformed into hundreds of forms of imperial beauty fit to 

 adorn the palaces of kings. The great peony family sprung 

 mostly from the alba flora of China. Skilled propagators have 

 given us over 2,000 named varieties. The canna, growing wild 

 on the banks of rivers in tropic and semi-tropic regions, had fine 

 foliage, and was first grown as a foliage plant. Then enterpris- 

 ing florists conceived the idea of improving the flowers, one man 

 making 40,000 crosses, till now it is one of the crowning glories 

 of our summers. 



So in forecasting our future we step in and possess the fruits 

 of most patient toil 



The vegetable garden feeds the body, the flower garden feeds 

 the soul. 



The Arnold Arboretum is the culmination of this third de- 

 gree of development. I have wandered with the superintendent 

 among 150 kinds of lilacs in full bloom, most of them hardy in the 

 North. I once rode with him on the cars when he had six kinds of 

 hybrid roses of his own creation. He once put a trailing juniper 

 on a red cedar and had an evergreen umbrella, and sold it for 

 $50.00. Prof. Jack, of the Arboretum Institute, who used my 

 peony manual as a text book, sent me one of Wilson's collection of 

 the iris. It proved one of the most remarkable plants I ever saw. 

 It had a little blue flower, but the foliage surpassed anything ever 

 known. It was a mound of vivid green, fresh till midsummer. A 

 border of this wonderful plant would excel in beauty anything 

 else. 



Wilson, sent out by the Arboretum, went through no end of 

 difficulties and dangers in the mountains of north China, having 

 his leg broken by a mud avalanche. Yet he secured a large col- 

 lection of the seeds, choice evergreens and deciduous trees, be- 

 sides a vast collection of flowering shrubs and flowers. These 

 will soon be disseminated, and you will have your pick of the best 

 the world affords. 



As to fruits, look back fifty years and see what you have done 

 and then look forward and see what you can do. and will do. With 

 hundreds at work producing new seedlings you are sure of splen- 

 did success. 



Among your number you have the world's greatest pomolo- 

 gist, Chas. G. Patten. He and I are of the same age. Both spared 

 by a kind Providence for some good reason. He will pass on, but 



