The Future of Flower Gardening in America 
By David Burpee, •■• Pennsylvania 
WITH us nil it i> the same — Our "hindsight" is 
better than 'jur foresight — we can read the past 
more clearlv than the future. Xeverthless, by 
the study of the past and the present tendencies of prog- 
ress, we can to some extent predict what those tendencies 
will bring forth in the years to come. 
There are two imi)ortant phases to the development of 
spect seed crops with my father. We traveled through 
England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, France and Ger- 
many and got out into the Rural Districts of each 
country. I was greatly impressed that in every little town 
the homes were surrounded, not by the lawns that one 
finds in .\merica, but wherever space permitted there was 
a flower garden. Rambler Roses, \\^istaria, or other 
:limbers were to be found over the doorways, and on the 
flower gardening which I want to emphasize. We might ^mall plots of ground either side of the little path leading 
to the house were old familiar flowers. It is needless to 
call them the Practical and the Popular. By the practical 
side of flower gardening I mean the development of ac- 
tual gardening itself — the science and the art of garden- 
ing, not only the improvement in methods of culture, 
but also the development of new and improved types of 
flow-ers and ornamental plants. The development of the 
art of flower gardening through the ages past has fol- 
lowed closely the development of the human race itself. 
As mankind has become more civilized and more refined, 
as we have gotten away more and more from the cave- 
man stage, the aesthetic side of our nature has developed 
and our spirit has cried out more and more for that 
which is beautiful. It is this ever increasing desire for 
the delicate beauty expressed only by flowers that has 
justified and has even compelled the development of 
flower gardening to its present stage. 
I believe, therefore, that the popular side of flower 
gardening is more important than the practical — the 
de.-^ire for the beautiful is more fundamental than the 
means by which we may obtain it. It would be ridiculous 
to suppose that [)rogress could be made in any line of 
endeavor without first having kindled the fire of desire. 
In years past great mystery surrounded the work of 
the [jrofessional gardener. He had gotten his experience 
through long years of hard knocks and he was loath to 
tell the amateur the whys and wherefores of his art. 
The |)ractical side of flower gardening was left almost 
entirely in the hands of the professional. But as the 
desire on the part of the amateur became greater and 
greater, he began to delve more and more into the 
mysteries of flower gardening. Some professionals 
seemed to think that this would work hardships on them, 
but in reality it has broadened the field for their pro- 
fession. 
This general tendency towards the growing of flowers 
should be encouraged by all. It is merely the expression 
of a great desire on the part of the human race which 
must be met and it grows stronger year by year. It is 
like a snowball that starts to roll at the top of a hill and 
grows greater the further it rolls. There is a cumulative 
effect. The more we grow flowers the more demand 
there will be for flowers and the more demand there 
will be for the service of the professional flower gardener. 
And as this desire for the beautiful grows greater, the 
niunber of flower gardens throughout the country will 
increase until the supi)ly meets the demand. But that 
will be a long distance in the future, and I even question 
if the supply will ever equal the demand, for there must 
always be more ]ieople who would like to have flower 
gardens around their homes than there are those who 
actually have them, ^^'ho was it that said, "Every 
Garden Mean.s a Home"? I might go further and say, 
"Surelv every Flower Garden mean a happy home." 
Nine or ten vears ago I first went to Europe to in- 
*Extracts from a paper presented at the convi-ntion of tlie Xatioiial 
sociation of Gardeners, Chicago. 
say that this warmth and beauty about the homes has 
added much to the happiness and contentment of the 
national life. 
In .America, and all new countries, we have been so 
busy developing our national resources and material 
wealth that we have neglected some of these finer things 
that we are now learning more to appreciate. Flower 
Gardening in America has not yet reached its normal 
level. The people of America are just beginning to 
awaken to the advantages and charm of the flower garden. 
So in the future we can e.xpect to see far greater prog- 
ress made in flower gardening in America than in any 
European country. 
Because of the abnormal conditions existing today 
flower gardening has received a severe shock. But the 
desire for flowers persists perhaps eveii more strongly 
than ever before. It is actual necessity that prevents 
many people today from surroimding their homes with 
the uplifting and refining influence of flowers. Never 
was there such need in the world for the influence of the 
delicate beauty which is produced only in the flower 
garden! We who have made gardening our life work 
should now do all we can to gladden the hearts of the 
sick. Yes, because of the waste of war actual flower 
gardening has suffered — but when peace comes and the 
pendulum again swings the other way, flower gardening 
will find that it has even a greater place in the sun — 
Flower Gardening in America has indeed a glorious 
future. 
STORAGE OF POTATOES AND OTHER 
VEGETABLES 
(Continued from page 43J.) 
Additional layers can be built up each day until the bins 
are filled to a depth of from 5 to 7 feet. Where entire 
bins are filled at one time it is difficult and often impos- 
sible to reduce the temperature to the proper point soon 
enough. 
While thousands of bushels of potatoes are annually 
stored in pits, experience has demonstrated that the prac- 
tice should be avoided wherever it is possible. Pits are 
not desirable, economical, nor permanent. Moisture and 
temperature cannot be controlled in them. The nits are 
not accessible for supplies for the home table or for the 
market in severe weather. The air space over the vege- 
tables is not sufficient to permit the escape of foul air, 
heat, or moisture. Perfect ventilation is always lacking. 
The pits have to be constructed annually, and cannot be 
utilized to sort or sack potatoes for shipment. 
Seed potatoes cannot be stored in pits. Owing to ina- 
bility to control ventilation, moisture, and tenijierature. 
disease is developed and vitalit}' and germination 
weakened. 
Do not store vegetables under living rooms in the 
homes. It is unhealthful and insanitary and the wastage 
is usualK ureat. 
443 
