ing young men) was so called because it was as the 

 youth of the year. 



As far back as the 8th century, B. C, there lived 

 one Hesiodus who was a poet, and being one, his 

 thoughts derived their inspiration and sustenance 

 froni the earth. So great an authority did he be- 

 come on flowers, on all growing things, the influence 

 of the moon on plants, and lucky and unlucky days 

 for sowing, that he constantly spoke in proverbs con- 

 cerning these things. One can easily fancy all 

 friends pressing Hesiodus to put his thoughts into 

 enduring form. This he eventually did, becoming 

 the father of all garden books, and the author of a 

 volume entitled " Works and Days," which con- 

 tained practical maxims and directions for hus- 

 bandry in all its phases. Nearly three thousand 

 years have passed since that old book was written, 

 yet to-day the subject is stiU as fresh and inexhausti- 

 ble as the spring itself. 



Even the seed catalogues come absolutely new to 

 the mind each season. I shall never forget the day 

 in my childhood when I discovered the first floral cata- 

 logue. It was an epoch. It opened the gate to the 

 land of heart's desire, the vineyard of dreams. 



Catalogues haven't changed much since my child- 

 3 



