256 



FLOWER COMPOSITION AND DECORATION. 



son that domesticated kinds are far more numerous. 



It may be a surprise to many to learn that the 

 world still possesses great numbers of wholly wild 

 species of plants which give promise of yielding im- 

 portant edible parts if once brought under the hand 

 of the cultivator. In fact, there is every reason to 

 believe that more edible fruits and kitchen vegeta- 

 bles are still unknown to cultivation than are now 

 grown by man. Dr. Masters declares that "there 

 are more vegetables to be had for the search than 

 are at present in use. The difficulty is rather in 

 overcoming the prejudice against new edibles and 

 in getting them cultivated, than in discovering them. " 

 There are only about 250 species of plants culti- 

 vated for food for man among civilized peoples, yet 

 the United States possesses within its borders cer- 

 tainly 75 wild species worthy of cultivation and im- 

 provement. In truth, America has so many wild 

 plants of economic promise, that it appears to be 

 safe to say that if the cradle of the race had been 

 rocked in the Mississippi valley, the world would 

 now have been far richer than it is in edible plants. 

 Already our own woods have given us great treasure. 

 All our grapes of out-door culture, all our raspber- 

 ries, blackberries, cranberries, best gooseberries, 

 and possibly our strawberries, have been improved 



from wild plants of our woods and fields. A new 

 race of plums and of currants, indigenous to our 

 soil, are now gaining prominence. And the untried 

 resources in the way of wild grapes, plums, cher- 

 ries, whortleberries, currants, gooseberries, and 

 other things, are numerous. It is certainly not a 

 bold prophecy to say that another century will bring 

 many species of fruits into common use of which 

 we now know nothing. The last half century of 

 progress in American horticulture is of itself suffi- 

 cient warrant for such statement. 



One of the best measures of the status of a sci- 

 ence is to be found in its vocabulary. Judged by 

 this measure, the science of horticulture is yet in 

 first infancy. Its terms are for the most part vague 

 and inadequate, and many important conceptions 

 and operations, capable of expression in a substant- 

 ive, must be conveyed in a bungling phrase. It is 

 not to be supposed that this meagre vocabulary 

 means that the laws of horticulture are past finding 

 out, or that ability is lacking to discern them. It 

 only illustrates the fact, patent in so many direc- 

 tions, that the best talent has been given to agricul- 

 tural professions less freely than to others. 



L. H. Bailey. 



FLOWER COMPOSITION AND DECORATION. 



N a charming article by a writer in 

 Figaro, the Parisian flower shops 

 are described in detail, and the lines 

 we quote are full of suggestions for 

 women. " Marvels of art, veritable 

 little masterpieces in which they dis- 

 play the faultless good taste of a Parisian lady and 

 the science of an accomplished artist in colors. I 

 feel for these flower girls the respectful admiration 

 with which I regard all true artists, for they are 

 quite on the level with our best painters. The least 

 skilful of these shop girls can compose for weddings, 

 marvelous symphonies in white, such as Raphael 

 might dream of. But it is not everyone who wishes 

 that can become a skilful composer of bouquets ; 

 certain conditions are indispensable. This business 

 must be followed exclusively, in consequence of the 

 individual not being able to endure the idea of fol- 

 lowing any other." 



Let women, in search of a living, think of these 

 things. It is undoubtedly true that women, more 

 than men, have intuitively an appreciation of grace- 

 ful forms and accordant colors. They have shown 

 that they can be successful painters and sculptors 

 — that they can work well with dead stone or pig- 



ment. Equally well can they work with living forms 

 of flowers. 



All intelligent men who have wives and daughters 

 know that the latter can arrange flowers better than 

 themselves. Why women are not found in the shops 

 of florists, I do not know ; but I am sure that the 

 florist who will employ them will find that the skill 

 and taste they show will increase his sales. It is an 

 occupation worthy of any cultured lady of taste and 

 refinement, who needs it for a living. I feel sure 

 that if such an one should open in any city, a place 

 where the finest creations of her taste could be 

 found, and from whence, with a corps of skilful 

 workers, she could decorate apartments for dinners 

 or other entertainments, she could not fail of suc- 

 cess. It requires only courage ; let her try it. 



S. B. Parsons. 



[Mr. Parsons is probably not aware that there are 

 several floral establishments in large cities run by 

 women with conspicuous success, both in an artistic 

 and financial way, and that girls are largely em- 

 ployed for making up designs by some of our most 

 prominent florists. It is a worthy occupation for 

 women, not overdone, and they succeed in it. — Ed. 

 Am. G. ! 



