50 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



and the sprightly flavor of the Northern Spy. If such a seedling 

 does not grow in Maine, a little encouragement by our Society 

 might lead to its propagation in the future. 



Of the other departments of our exhibition I will only add a few 

 words concerning the flowers. The past few years our agricultural 

 organizations have been urging the passage of laws requiring the 

 study of the natural sciences as related to agriculture in the public 

 schools. Laws have been passed requiring it, and in many parts of the 

 State agriculture is being studied in the schools. In this connection 

 our Society lias offered for several years premiums for botanical work 

 npon our Maine fl ra, the conditions requiring an exhibition of cor- 

 rectly named specimens of dried or cut wild flowers. There have 

 been several good exhibitions, but we are not satisfied with the 

 results, for the competition should be more general. Tt is possible 

 the premiums should be larger, but our funds will hardly permit 

 of this. 



For several years the Massachusetts Horticultural Society has 

 done an excellent work in window gardening. It has given the 

 children in Bosion potted plants in the spring with a few cultural 

 directions to aid them in their care. In the autumn the children 

 brought back the plants for exhibition, and to those whose plants 

 were found to be the best cared for, etc., small cash premiums were 

 awarded. The children learned to love and care for the plants, and 

 in many cases the plants cheered the sick with their beautiful 

 flowers and the suffering was much easier to bear. But more than 

 all this the children learned many things about plants and what 

 make them grow. As one result, it is claimed that many homes, 

 otherwise cheerless and forlorn, are adorned with beautiful plants, 

 which are tenderly cared for by the children. More than all this 

 we believe the children are better and happier for the care they 

 bestow upon the plants. 



This work is one I have watched with deep interest for I know 

 how much the little folks may learn of the wonderful works of 

 nature, it' only a guiding hand may lead them. It is surprising 

 how a little knowledge gained of one plant will teach the child to 

 study others, and step by step as the child develops there come 

 new powers of observation, until the child acquires the habit of 

 observing everything in nature. The plant, the tree, the flower and 

 every living thing leads on the child until there comes the question 

 what mak s the plant grow and the flower bloom ? Life then becomes 



