CHAPTER XXXIII 

 HORTICULTURAL VARIETIES 



THE great variations among plants and flowers that to most people 

 seem very much alike should become better known both for the enjoy- 

 ment this study yields and for its educational and cultural value. The 

 formation of a fine collection of one or two genera of plants like the 

 peony, the iris, or the gladiolus, may become a hobby that will give 

 for the study and time and money expended upon it much reward, 

 additional to that obtained from enjoying the blooms of one's own 

 choice plants. Not only are ideals of excellence improved and the 

 aesthetic sense cultivated, but there is genuine and lasting pleasure 

 found in becoming acquainted with congenial persons through a wide 

 range of territory, united by community of plant interest in a pursuit 

 that leads to refinement. The interchange of ideas expressed in their 

 publications yields a satisfaction greatly enhanced when the members 

 of the society interested in "promoting" the flower meet in convention. 

 It all becomes fascinating to a degree unintelligible to a person who has 

 not yet given himself enthusiastically to specializing in a flower. 

 For those who have the inclination or the financial means that justify 

 them in seeking the satisfaction that comes from possessing rare 

 varieties of a flower, there are available the publications of the societies 

 such as have been named. 



Many treasures consisting of native plants still generally unknown, 

 and of rare horticultural varieties, have long been denied to the 

 purchasers of nursery stock in this country, either because they have 

 not been properly presented to the public by the nurserymen, or be- 

 cause the prospective purchaser has been too timid to try new varieties 

 of old plants. Thus much of our American ornamental planting has a 

 sameness which tends to discourage people who have wearied of seeing 

 the old familiar plants but would respond quickly to an opportunity to 

 secure and use new and better varieties. 



Peonies, lilacs, and irises are now becoming very well known, many 

 amateurs have collections which are equal to the best, and people 



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