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OUR WILD FLOWER SHOWS. 287 
OUR WILD FLOWER SHOWS. 
MISS CORNELIA PORTER. 
{Read at the Summer Meeting, 1895,of the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society.) 
In considering the subject of “Wild Flower Shows,” it presents 
itself to me in two phases: the influence past exhibits have had in 
awakening an interest in our native flora, and the possibilities 
which lie in future exhibits to make this interest an incentive to 
learn more about our wild flowers. 
Our local wild flower exhibits had their origin in an experiment. 
Four years ago, in the spring of 1891,a few of our flower-loving 
citizens conceived the idea of such an exhibit for the purpose of 
interesting the school children, especially the botany classes, in 
this work. Accordingly a meeting was called to consider the feasi- 
bility of having a wild flower show. The ladies were requested to 
be present, but only one was in attendance. Arrangements were 
made at this meeting for an “Apple Blossom Show,” to be given the 
16th of May. Wild crab apple blossoms were to be made the prin- 
cipal feature of this exhibit. Four premiums were offered: 
1. To any member of the botany class for the most tastefully ar- 
ranged basket of wild flowers, a choice painting. 
2. Plants and seeds to the amount of $1.50 to any scholar for the 
most tasteful arrangement of wild apple blossoms. 
3. Plants and seeds to the amount of $1.50 to any scholar forthe 
prettiest show Of wild flowers. 
4. By the horticultural society, $1.00, to any member for the best 
grown pot plant in bloom. 
Owing to the uncertainty of the result of this experiment it was . 
decided to have the exhibit at a private home, and Mrs. Crouch 
kindly opened her house forthe occasion. Since the exhibit was to 
be given chiefly for the benefit of the schools, only pupils were per- 
mitted to make entries for premiums (with one exception, that of $1.00 
given for the best grown pot plant). Early on the afternoon of May 
16, the flowers began to come in, and before evening the number of 
entries. surpassed all expectations. Although the exhibit con- 
sisted mostly of wild flowers, yet the display was greatly enhanced 
by choice cut flowers and pot plants from the gardens and green- 
houses of our home florists. 
Encouraged by a large and varied collection of wild flowers and 
the large number of people in attendance at this “Apple Blossom 
Show,” the horticultural society made extended arrangements in 
the spring of 1892 for a repetition. They decided to hold the exhibit 
at the courthouse. The number of premiums was increased from 
four to eleven. The increase of displays which followed these in- 
ducements justified the action. The following year, being the year 
of the World’s Fair, it was decided to postpone the exhibit, but in 
the spring of 1894 the horticultural society again made preparations 
for a wild flower show. So generously had the pupils responded to 
the offers of the horticultural society at the previous shows, that 
twenty premiums were offered, five times the number offered three 
years before. With one exception the premiums were upon wild 
flowers, and the fact that of the twenty premiums offered, eleven 
