92 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



A DISCUSSION AS TO WHAT SHALL BE MAINE'S FLOWER 

 TX THE NATIONAL OAKLAND. 



B\' Janet L. Dixgley, Auburu, Chairmau of the Elaine Floral 

 Emblem Society. 



All the countries of Europe, in fact all the nations of the civil- 

 ized world, have their national flowers. They have originated for 

 the most part either in legend or in war. The mignonette, the 

 emblem of Saxony, is founded on romance. The English rose is 

 immortalized by thirty years of war. The shamrock of Ireland is 

 grown out of religious mystery: "How can three be one?" asks 

 the pagan Irish chief. "Even as the trefoil," answered St. Patrick, 

 plucking a shamrock at his feet, and Ireland had a floral emblem 

 from the suffrage of heaven. 



The prick of the thistle once caused a cry in a party of attacking 

 Danes, aud thus saved the Scots from slaughter at the hands of 

 midnight marauders. The French fleur-de-lis has been the emblem 

 of France ever since a woaderf ul dream of one of the earliest kings 

 of that country. Every traveler in the Alps will admit the peculiar 

 appropriateness with which the edelweiss typifies Switzerland. 



The national floral emblem of the United States cannot be 

 founded on traditions, for we have no national myths. It would 

 not be appropriate to consult the annals of war, for we are preemi- 

 nently a nation of peace. No striking event in our history pro- 

 claims the fitness of any one flower. The struggle for life of the 

 early settlers and the struggle for money of the present generation 

 have given us small leisure to agitate a theme which peculiarly con- 

 cerns sentiment. 



For upwards of ten years unorganized movements have been 

 made in different parts of the country looking to the selection of a 

 national flower. One band in the South suggests that our flower 

 be emblematic of our industrial life, and proposes the cotton as 

 our emblem. The farmers of the West suggest the corn as emblem- 

 atic of agricultural life. However, it is thought by most that by 

 a garland the spirit and idea of our federation will be best 

 expressed. It concerns Maine, therefore, to select her emblem to 

 form a part of this garland. 



The first thoroughly organized attempt by popular choice to 

 secure a national floral emblem appropriate to the United States 



