292 ANNUAL EEPORT. 



beloved State with bits of brightness and beauty which shall be a joy forever; let 

 us, as a Society, exert our influence in this matter of cultivating and adorning the 

 play grounds, where our children spend so much of their time and where they are 

 receiving impressions which shall be as lasting as their lives. 



And permit me to say a few words on a subject not down in the bills, I mean the 

 adornment of our railroad stations. 



Who has not felt the restful, cheering effect of the miniature parks bright with 

 flowers and foliage, to be seen at the stations on some of our roads ? Why may 

 not these refreshments for the eye become general? 



They would be very little expense, the station agent could oversee them, and in 

 most cases would enjoy doing so, for his own pleasure and that of his family. An^ 

 who knows but some weary traveler may be reminded by a pretty, fragrant flower 

 of home and mother's teachings, and turn away from the saloon right across the 

 way? A less thing than a flower has been used as the agency to save a man from 

 ruin. Have you read the exquisite tale of "Picciola" by Sanitine ? if not 1 pray you 

 do so as soon as you can. 



It is the story of a French Count who languished for years in a prison on account 

 of his political views, during the reign of Napoleon the Great. He was hardened 

 against kindly influence, despairing and bitter, and had lost faith in God and man. 

 One day walking back and forth in the narrow court yard, with nothing to interest 

 him, a prey to his gloomy thoughts, his head cast down, he began to count the 

 stones in the walk by way of diversion, and perceived a little mound of earth raised 

 between the stones and slightly opened at the top. So monotonous and bare was 

 his lonely life, that this change, insignificant as it was startled him ; he grew ex- 

 cited wondering what it meant. Stooping over the little mound, he very carefully 

 removed some particles of earth and saw a feeble specimen of vegetation with 

 scarcelv strength to sprout, weak and languishing; he was about to crush it 

 with his heel, when a fresh breeze wafted to him the perfume of honeysuckle and 

 heather, and checked the act, with the thought that some day, this little embrya 

 might have perfume to give him. Then he began to reason, how was it possible for 

 that minute plant so weak, so soft, so fragile, to throw out that earth, dried and 

 hardened by the sun. He became interested, examined it more closely, saw how its 

 first leaves were protected by a sort of double fleshy valve, so that nothing could in- 

 jure them, and his mind was awakened and turned out of his gloomy thoughts. 

 And the story of how day by day, he watched that plant expand, how tenderly he 

 nurtured and watered it, how he grew to love it with the devotion of a lover, and 

 how it became to him an evangel, lifting up his heart to the God whom he had de- 

 nied, giving him patience to endure and inspiring him with hope, and how in some 

 way his beloved "Picciola" was instrumental in his restoration to freedom and 

 great happiness, is most touching and fascinating. 



For beauty of style, ingenuity of method, purity of sentiment and sound con- 

 vincing argument on the reality and power of the Christian faith, it has no equal 

 in uninspired literature and should have a conspicuous place in every horticultural 

 library. 



And now if the premises in the foregoing are correct, it seems clear that a part 

 of our duty as a Horticultural Society, is to im'plant and foster in the minds of our 

 vouth a genuine intelligent love for the culture of plants, and the plan suggested 



