ANNUAL WINTER MEETING. 67 



in every fxjssible way to take part in future distributions and form local 

 horticultural societies, with regular meetings to study and practice this 

 woric, both in the home and on the school ground. 



Almost the first want of a child is to possess something for its own— it 

 is the ruling passion of man from the cradle to the grave. 



The principle of ownership should be just as sacredly guarded in 

 the most trivial posessions of a child as the largest business of an indi- 

 vidual or corporation. My first experience in this direction made a lasting 

 impression, and it is no doubt the same with many other farmer boys. 

 An indulgent father gave me a pig all my own, I loved that pig as 

 I never loved a pig before or since. I petted it; I fed it: I cared for it 

 as my first great wealth. It was more to me than bonds, stock or lands. 

 I felt as rich as a young Vanderbilt, but alas, my pig became a hog, and 

 then, unhappy day! my pig was fatker^s hog, and I had nothingto show for 

 it. 



I tell you,my friends, be careful how the boy's pig becomes fathei's hog: 

 be careful how the boy's calf becomes the father's cow. A child should 

 be taught lessons in ownership, possession and responsibility. Give them 

 something all their own. If a colt, they should have it when a horse: 

 if a lamb,give them the sheep: also, if a plat of ground, let them have the 

 product. 



There is no better way to start a child in this experience than with 

 fruits and flowers. A dozen strawV^erry plants set in the spring may pro- 

 duce 500 in the fall, and the next season yield a bountiful supply of de- 

 licious fruit. 



The work in all its detail is healthful, easy and pleasant. The 

 growth is rapid and results profitable. What is true of strawberries is also 

 true of many other plants and flowers. 



To the state horticultural soci'ety of Minnesota I now make the same 

 proposition I made my own state society last year: to donate 6,000 straw- 

 berry plants to the first 1,000 children in Minnesota, who will receive and 

 care for them under such regulations as you may see fit to adopt. I shall 

 donate 30,000 plants to my own society this season for distribution as be- 

 fore, and I hope to see sufficient interest in Minnesota to warrant a simi- 

 lar donation to this society another year. I want to see every child the 

 real possessor and owner of a plant, fiower or shrub, to care for, protect 

 and propagate. Those who are successful with small plants should be en- 

 couraged with larger ones the following year, and so on, year after year, 

 until every child becomes a practical horticulturist. I want to see this 

 work done so thoroughly that every child may have the honor of surround- 

 ing his or her home with beautiful flowers and delicious fruits; and that 

 every family will from actual experience acknowledge the refining influ- 

 ence of horticulture. 



Discussion. 



Mr. Thayer: In that letter which I mentioned in my paper, 

 I sent out instructions to the children how to set out the plants, 

 and I also sent some illustrations of the pistillate and non- 

 pistillate varieties, and gave instructions also how to spread 

 the roots, etc. 



