The Canadian Horticulturist. 301 



EVERY FARMER'S NAME UPON HIS FRONT GATE. 



The tree is known by the fruit it bears, 

 The lord or peasant by the garb he wears. 



ND SO the principle obtains throughout the whole economy of human 

 life and existence. The Jews of old looked for a sign, and so has the 

 world ever since. In trade and commerce much depends upon the 

 sign ; hence we find tradesmen vieing one with another in the strik- 

 ing and attractive features of the trade-mark or inscription that 

 indicates or suggests the kind of business in which they are engaged. 

 But with the tradesman the trade-mark or sign is not enough. He always has 

 associated with it, in very conspicuous letters, his own name. John Smith may 

 keep a place of business, and carry on a trade in drugs, dry goods, or what not, 

 and he lets the public know this by a trade-mark, or sign, and a display of his 

 wares. But he wants the public to know that John Smith is the man who keeps 

 and sells these wares, so he places his name over his front door, or somewhere 

 conspicuously upon his premises. In what sense does John Smith, the trades- 

 man, differ from John Smith, the farmer, in their relations to the public ? Both 

 alike have to depend respectively on the public for the consumption of the com- 

 modities they produce or deal in. Why should not John Smith, the farmer, 

 have his name upon his front gate as well as his namesake, the tradesman, his 

 name upon, or over his front door ? 



A few years ago a bank manager was moved from one to another of the 

 many pretty towns that are to be found scattered throughout this rich and highly- 

 favored province. What could be more natural than that this banker should 

 desire to know something of the country immediately surrounding the commer- 

 cial centre in which his bank agency was situated ? On the first convenient 

 day Mr. Walker (for such we will call him), having secured a span of horses, 

 double carriage and a driver, started out with his family for a pleasure drive 

 — with an eye to business as well — through the adjacent country. Just how 

 frequently the driver was plied, during the trip with the query, " Who lives there ?" 

 w'e will not venture to say. But it is safe to hazard the assertion that the in- 

 quiry was never made except when the attractiveness of the [home and its envi- 

 ronments prompted or awakened an impulse complimentary to the owner of the 

 premises inquired about. On the return journey, a course was taken along one 

 of the leading concession lines of the township of Woodhouse, when the ques- 

 tion came for the twentieth time, " Who lives there ? "' This time the query was 

 not left for the driver to answer, for on approaching the road gate there, 

 upon the upper frame, was the name in bold letters, J. H. Smith, Could Mr. 

 Smith have heard the remarks that the new idea called forth from the occupants 

 of the passing carriage he would have felt amply paid for the cost and trouble of 



