GARDEN WRITINGS IN AMERICA \79 



to the garden habit are, however, following an ancient precedent, 

 for have we not seen that the earliest Kahmdar of all, the very 

 beginning of our subject, was by that "great florist, uncommonly 

 fond of a garden, Mrs. Logan of Charleston"; and I am glad to 

 note this present-day tendency for I do sincerely believe that it 

 will be women of America who will give to American gardening its 

 real stamp of aesthetic individuality. Women as garden writers 

 are also making an impression abroad. 



A significant factor to be borne in mind is the influence of the 

 garden clubs, the membership of which is composed almost wholly 

 of women. These organizations are serious and from their mem- 

 bership is bound to come a new body of observers and recorders. 

 I look to a very strong influence from this direction on our garden 

 writings in the very near future. Indeed, the beginnings are 

 already with us. Mrs. King, of Michigan, has already published 

 one book, her writings in the periodical press are familiar, and her 

 activities in garden propaganda in general are well known. Simi- 

 larly, we may recall the names of Mrs. E. A. Stokes Peckham of 

 New York, Mrs. J. M. Patterson of Virginia, Mrs. F. N. Doubleday 

 (Neltje Blanchan) of New York, and Miss Louise Shelton of New 

 Jersey, as pioneers in the new amateur garden movement whose 

 writings of gardening are already bearing an influence. 



It has been my privilege to address a considerable number of 

 these garden clubs, and I am able to bear personal testimony of 

 the intensity of purpose, and of the frequently well-informed status 

 of the members. And this group of people is raising up among us a 

 new class of readers whose requirements must be met adequately 

 in contemporary garden writings. Here will come the demand for 

 writings of the third class. 



The activity of book productions reflects very exactly the general 

 conditions of the country. This can be clearly seen in studying 

 the chronology of our subject. It would almost seem indeed that 

 garden writings can be charted into a very true curve of the gen- 

 eral business situation ; for quite apart from the natural growth in 

 volume as time progresses we can trace very interesting and illumi- 

 nating fluctuations. 



In times of progress and great business activity the presses deliver 

 a greater number of different works than in the intervening periods 



