72 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1904. 



bring cheerfulness, purity and refinement. They are the spring 

 of sunshine, a constant pleasure. We would have flowers in 

 every home for their soul refreshing, heart inspiring and eye 

 brightening influence. 



Next to adorning our homes with these exquisite natural 

 beauties comes the art to form their counterpart in wax and 

 in oil in the most perfect manner, which is done most truthfully 

 and lifelike that can be conceived, and as the contemplation 

 of the beautiful is always interesting and instructive, so the 

 art of copying or producing faithful imitations of the same, 

 must tend to instruct and refine the taste and improve the 

 mind of the operator; and it will be found that those persons 

 constantly engaged in copying the lovely things scattered by 

 a munificent creator through our woods and fields, will be 

 ever on the watch for beautiful objects; tliis alone would be 

 a high recommendation in favor of teaching and learning the 

 art of forming the flowers and fruit of our own dear land, and 

 then embellish our homes with these beautiful objects of nature. 



In every home we should find the refining influence of good 

 literature apparent. Let it not be as it was fifty years ago, 

 a centre table adorned with books placed at exact distances, 

 with the most rigid accuracy; but no home adornment is 

 complete without a good array of choice books. Let it be the 

 aim of all to secure a good library of the standard authors, 

 poets and historians of our day. Be careful in your selections. 

 Let them be only the very best of their class. We rejoice that 

 the day of light, trashy reading is rapidly passing and the 

 demand as rapidly growing for books of the purest tone of 

 sentiment or song. We know of no greater factor for culture, 

 enjoyment and true happiness in our homes than that derived 

 from reading and study of the best books at our command. 

 May this custom of reading circles Increase in all of our societies. 



To decorate properly we must blend different colors and 

 shades, that they may appear in perfect harmon}^ It needs 

 the hand and brain of the professional expert to make the 

 most complete arrangements so it may produce the best effects. 

 The idea of home decoration prevails among all classes of 



