134 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



know and cultivate, not because of their food value, as they 

 have none, but because of their grace and beauty. Thoreau 

 says, "nature made ferns tor pure leaves to show what she could 

 do in that line," and other plants may produce simple leaves, or 

 make rude attempts at beauty with divided leaflets, but the fern 

 IS able to surpass them all. Ferns are found growing in all soils, 

 and they strive to call our attention to the fact that they are 

 adapted to fill in and cover and beautify the places which cannot 

 support another plant. "Ferns are nature's decorative ideas, 

 only intended for brightening up the underwood and softening 

 the rugged outlines of gray rocks," says a writer; and why can 

 not the farmer and gardener of to-day make use of this means of 

 adding beauty to the home. Many of our common ferns are 

 well adapted to indoor decoration, and a pot of ferns on the 

 dinner table adds much to one's pleasure. (Demonstration of 

 ferns suitable.) Most ferns thrive well if given a moist shady 

 place, and once started need but little attention. 



The process of fertilization is one which is of much import- 

 ance to all agriculturists and should be well understood. The 

 care which nature takes to insure fertilization, and the prefer- 

 »:;nce shown by most plants for cross-fertiiization is well illus- 

 trated by the common Dandelion. (Demonstration.) 



The knowledge of fertilization will lead to the proper knowl- 

 edge of hybridization; a subject of great importance to the 

 horticulturist. In order to have a full understanding of this 

 subject, the pupil should have the use of a good microscope; 

 indeed, the use of a microscope is cjuite essential to the proper 

 understanding of many of the subjects I have named. A good 

 microscope can now be obtained at a very reasonable figure, and 

 every school should be supplied with one, or more, and also a 

 teacher wno knows how to use it. The selection of a microscope 

 should not be left to anyone; but the advice of some recognized 

 authority should be obtained. It is very necessary in the 

 advanced study of plants and animals that the pupil be able to 

 get his knowledge at first hand, and that it should not be filtered 

 through a book. Other subjects of importance for study are 

 mosses, algae, fungi, etc. In these the use of a microscope is 

 imperative. 



