196 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



people are well-nigh wearied of the subject. But, on perusing the 

 pages of a certain much-heralded work on the World's Columbian 

 Exposition and there finding under the subject of Floriculture, 

 "twenty Azalea Mollis all in pink and white, flowering in June" 

 recorded as one of the most notable exhibits, and the further 

 interesting information that " Roses were planted six inches deep 

 on account of the little root they had on arrival," one is forced to 

 the conclusion that possibly there may still be found in that 

 department something as yet unchronicled but well deserving of 

 our thoughtful consideration. 



The domain of Horticulture is today too broad and too compre- 

 hensive to be treated as one subject, even if one had the requisite 

 experience in all its departments. Its great subdivisions, pomology, 

 viticulture, market gardening — all well illustrated at Chicago — 

 each a noble industry iu itself, with its own peculiar conditions 

 and special interests — have, with the exception of their direct 

 dependence upou the soil for existence, little iu common with that 

 horticulture which ministers to the artistic perceptions rather than 

 the physical necessities of mankind, whose cultivation exalts and 

 ennobles the mind as no other art ever can, and gives to Horticul- 

 tnre its strongest hold upon the hearts of our people. Horticulture 

 without Ornamental Horticulture would prove but a feeble 

 attraction. 



Ornamental Horticulture is the only horticulture with which I 

 am familiar, and to the consideration of that subject I have con- 

 fined this brief paper, purposely avoiding the infliction upon you 

 of a detailed list or description of the exhibits at Chicago or 

 statistics of any kind. 



As illustrated at the World's Fair, Ornamental Horticulture 

 may be considered, first, in its capacity as an indispensable 

 feature of the equipment of the grounds and buildings ; 



Second, as illustrating the varied horticultural attractions, 

 resources, and industries of countries and states remote from each 

 other and widely differing in climate and topography ; and 



Third, as oiTering an opportunity for individuals and iu-ms 

 engaged in horticultural pursuits, to exlii])it to the world in 

 friendly competition the results of their labors. 



Under the first heading properly belongs the landscape work. 

 Without the aid of the landscape architect in designing and locat- 

 ing, and the gardener in adorning, those beautiful buildings — 



