GARDENING AFTER THE WAR 07 



will be inclined to go a step farther and set out berry plants and 

 bush fruits, and ultimately orchard trees. 



Having learned through their recent experiences that the home 

 grown product is of a vastly superior quality they will be more 

 readily open to conviction that the same thing is true of the fruits. 

 Here, the nurseryman must be a missionary ser^'ing his customer 

 to the best of his ability and teaching him that market ^■arieties 

 are not the best available for the home garden. 



In fact the two ideals are diametrically opposed, and one might 

 almost go so far as to say that a variety of sviperlati\e market 

 quality is, by that very token, scored down for the home. 



Here in this state, under the auspices of this Aery organization 

 that in the past has rendered such valued service in introducing the 

 fanciest fruits to the gardens of New England, it seems fitting at 

 this time to again direct attention to the home standard of qualities 

 in fruits. Have we not lost something in recent years? Is there 

 to be a renaissance in this? 



The Returning Soldier. 



Is the returning soldier to be a factor in our renaissance? Surely 

 there have been "much coming and going on the surface of the 

 earth, vast interchanges of ideas and experiences among the nations 

 of men." Already, indeed, we have some evidence that those who 

 are returning, despite the appalling scenes of horror and devasta- 

 tion, are coming back with visions of the beauty of the European 

 home garden. They have seen thousands of them, hundreds of 

 thousands of them, scenes of roadside and rural beauty that have 

 been as b\'Avords to the initiated horticulturist, who, however, has 

 largely failed hitherto to find a responsive public. 



Not in vain have the "Poppies on Flanders field" bloomed 

 before the eyes of our men, for they have seen with their own eyes 

 what the growth of flowers may do to redeem tragedy and horror. 

 They have seen flowers waving a welcome of color and delight away 

 from the battlefield. 



We have been told how the people of France and England wel- 

 comed the troops wath garlands and bouquets of flowers. When 



