STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. . 91 



THE UT[LITy OF THE BEAUTIFUL, OR, WHY CHILDREN- 

 SHOULD BE EDUCATED IX FLOWERS. 



Pomology iu all its range is so closely allied to floriculture that 

 it seems impossible to treat of one without the other. The science 

 that deals with fruit must also include the flower, as all fruit is only 

 the flower brought to perfection. 



The botanist sees the apple In the delicate blossom as perfectly 

 as the pomologist does in the ripened pome. As science broadens, 

 specialists become the order of the da}', a single line of work 

 demanding the entire attention of the individual or society. Would 

 one study thoroughly any kind of fruit, he must know it through- 

 out its earlier stage of planthood ; its habits as a flower and its 

 development into fruit. No pomologist can fail to be a botanist. 

 He may not have familiarized himself with the books, yet he must 

 know the fruit he cultivates and loves. 



In the early days of our Normal Schools before our Agricultural 

 College had made itself felt as an educator, or even the agricultur- 

 al and pomological societies had begun their teaching in our State, 

 I found it didkult at first to interest, in the study of botany the 

 young men who were fitting themselves for teachers. They met me 

 with, "It is a girl's study," ''AVhat do I want of it?" A flower 

 to them was an insignificant thing not worth their attention. 

 Women have always cultivated flowers. A woman who does not 

 love them is an anomaly. Eve, we know, devoted her whole 

 time to the garden — being the first pomologist of whom we read. 

 Adam probably assisted her, but men, as a rule have not been 

 given to the cultivation of flowers, except for gain. But this, in 

 a measure is passing away. 



Decoration Day, the transition from the cruelty and barbarism 

 of war to the peaceful mission of flowers, laid lovingly on a fallen 

 comrade's last resting place has wrought a wonderful change. The 

 most significant holiday in Maine to-day is Decoration Day, when 

 men march with banners, to the beat of the drum, bearing not 

 arms, but armfuls of flowers to decorate the graves of both friend 

 and foe. It was my pleasure to be in the White City Decoration 

 Day. The army hat was everywhere. The G. A. R. man interested 

 me more than any other exhibit. I was impressed with the fresh- 

 ness of his uniform as though it had been ordered for the occasion. 



