THE EDITOR'S OUTLOOK. 



617 



There is no question but that the area of grain 

 growing will soon begin to work eastward. The 

 slovenly and speculative farming of the prairies is 

 exhausting the soil and breeding a deplorable and 

 weedy recklessness. The grain-producing capacity 

 of the western lands is constantly decreasing ; that 

 of New York lands is increasing. Slack methods 

 are responsible for the one ; clean and scientific 

 methods account for the other. Wheat growing in 

 the Genesee valley is even now more profitable 

 than in Dakota. 



But we do not expect that grain growing will again 

 become the staple of New England agriculture, for 

 the conditions are not adapted to it. The fertile 

 valleys are as profitable as ever, and they can be 

 made still more profitable by the use of special crops. 

 Horticulture must supplant agriculture in many re- 

 gions. Many of the hill-sides afford admirable 

 ranges, and the wilder and more barren regions 

 must be given over to forests. 



This is what the abandonment of the New Eng- 

 land farms means. Agriculture is undergoing revo- 

 lution. We are learning to work with nature rather 

 than against it. Massachusetts is still a desirable 

 state for the intelligent and energetic farmer ; others 

 must go elsewhere. 



HORTICULTURE 



AT THE 

 WORLD'S FAIR. 



T 



HE HORTICULTURAL as- 

 sociation which has grown 

 out of the delegate convention 

 called to consider plans for horticultural exhibits at 

 the Columbian Exposition, has entered upon its 

 work with energy and comprehensiveness. It has 

 formed itself into a body which is to exist during 

 the exposition, and has adopted a memorial to the 

 National Exposition Commission urging the import- 

 ance of a separate and distinct horticultural exhibi- 

 tion, and it promises to "undertake, under proper 

 conditions, to place in this exposition a compre- 

 hensive exhibit of the fruits, trees, plants, flowers, 

 seeds and garden products from the known world, 

 both in the growing state and the natural products 

 as harvested." In order to forestall any chance of 

 political appointees filling the important positions, 

 the association has recommended to the commission 

 five persons as superintendents. The recommenda- 

 tions are well chosen, and we see no reason why 

 all horticultural interests should not second them 

 heartily. The choice of Parker Earle for general 

 commissioner of the horticultural interests must be 

 gratifying to all. As commissioner of the horticul- 

 tural exhibits at the New Orleans Exposition — the 

 only truly national horticultural exhibition which 

 we have yet had — and as president of the American 



Horticultural Society, he is well known and must 

 be peculiarly well fitted for his new duties. 



The government exhibits at the World's Fair have 

 been placed in charge of Edwin Willits, Assistant 

 Secretary of Agriculture, a man who is eminently 

 qualified in all respects to conduct a representative 

 exhibition. We are assured that he desires to make 

 the horticultural features prominent. With two 

 representative and broad men to lead, the horticul- 

 tural features of the great Exposition ought to eclipse 

 anything ever attempted. 



In men and organization there is nothing more 

 to be desired, and we do not doubt that all the de- 

 tails will be worked out with wisdom. The fact 

 should not be overlooked that this Exposition will 

 furnish unprecedented opportunities to study plants 

 and their products in a most comprehensive way, 

 both in purely scientific and practical directions. 

 Some means should be provided by which specialists 

 can study certain groups and publish monographs 

 of them. Occasions are few when such facilities 

 are offered, and they should not be lost. 



We are also looking for a permanent organization 

 to grow out of this Columbian Horticultural Asso- 

 ciation. For some time there has been a move- 

 ment on foot to consolidate all national horticul- 

 tural organizations into one congress of horticulture, 

 somewhat after the general plan of the American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science. Such 

 a federation would enable one to attend all the 

 national organizations at a minimum of time and 

 expense, and it would coordinate and intensify all 

 horticultural interests. Each organization would 

 still retain its individuality as now, but all could 

 meet consecutively in the same place and each 

 could receive the benefits accruing from contact 

 with other interests. No doubt all our national 

 horticultural organizations will unite in an endeavor 

 to make a worthy horticultural display at Chicago, 

 and after working under the Columbian Horticul- 

 tural Association it will be but a natural effort to 

 clasp hands in a general brotherhood. 



IDEALS FOR 

 FLORISTS. 



'T'HE Society of American Florists 

 -L has a high ideal set before it in 

 the address of the retiring president. 

 The Society should be more than a trade organiza- 

 tion. Its objects are "not only to instruct its mem- 

 bers in their daily avocations, but to educate the 

 masses in horticulture by widening and deepening 

 an interest in our profession, by increasing our 

 membership, active and honorary, until we embrace 

 all the leading men of the country who are interested 

 in the various callings of horticulture, all men en- 



