202 THE GOLD MINE 



as in cattle. A $15 scrub cow bears no comparison with 

 a choice, thoroughbred Jersey, which costs ten times as 

 much. 



^'Think what economy there would have been in start- 

 ing right. Had you bought one glorious Festiva Maxi- 

 ma with your dollar you would have had blooms worth 

 while, and fifteen or twenty good roots by this time. 

 You might have bought the beautiful I'Esperence or 

 Andre Laures for 50 cents each, and had early and late 

 blooms, and a wholesale lot of them. Your experience 

 was worth all you paid for your worthless roots, and 

 remember there are many dealers who keep just that 

 kind of stock for just such customers. It pays to get 

 the best. We have several that cost $2.50 a root, whole- 

 sale, in England, and some that cost $5 a root; but it 

 pays.'' 



Is it not strange, that in fitting up a home, one is so 

 lavish on the furnishings and so parsimonious on the 

 outside adornment? I have known a man with large 

 and beautiful grounds and a home that cost thousands, 

 to throw up his hands in horror at having to pay $40 

 for choice trees, shrubs and flowers for the lawn. You 

 build a costly house, and the moment you enter it, it 

 begins to depreciate in value. You fill your yard with 

 choice things, and they begin to increase. There is a 

 gold mine there. Work it, and you will be rich in the 

 beauty it gives. Don't be content with a single flower. 

 Get masses of them. 



I look out on thousands of glorious columbines, ming- 

 ling their beauty ; hundreds of the oriental poppies, that 



