152 
WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE 
June, 1918 
Wisconsin Roriicultnre 
WHY WE FIGHT 
It has been forced on the attention of the writer from time 
to time that there are some men, some who should be leaders, 
who are saying in an apologetic way that now since we are in 
the war we must see it through. One is impressed with the 
idea that if these persons were to express themselves fully it 
would run like this: “1 never was in favor of this war; there 
would not have been any war if I had been in charge of things, 
but we are now in it and we cannot help ourselves; we must 
fight or be ignominously licked.” 
Such patriotism lacks the ringing note of whole-heartedness; 
it is apologetic and weak-kneed. A man or woman of mature 
judgment who cannot see that this war was for us unavoidable, 
is letting his emotions or his sympathies rule him instead of his 
reason. This nation had to go to war, if it was to preserve its 
self-respect among the nations; not to go to war in view of the 
circumstances would have caused every true American to hang 
his head in shame. Not only is this nation fighting to pre- 
serve its rights on the high seas, but it is also fighting — and 
this should never be forgotten — the battle for rights of small 
nations to an independent existence and far the perpetuity of 
free democratic institutions. We are indeed fighting for the 
very existence of our own country as a free and independent 
nation. It is a necessary, a righteous war. 
Prussian militarism has gone mad, and it is now plain to 
every thinking man and woman, no matter what his nationality, 
that liberty-loving nations the world over must fight for liberty 
or, failing in this, autocracy will for generations to come rule 
the world. Let us have an end of this milk-and-water sup- 
port of our government in this hour when we are put to the 
supreme test. We are not in this war for conquest of terri- 
toy or for any other sordid motive. We are in it for the preser- 
vation of human rights as against militarism. Those who are 
not for us are against us; we have no apologies to offer. 
C. P. CARY. 
Published Monthly by the 
Wisconsin State Horticultural Society 
12 N. Carroll St. 
Official organ of the Society. 
FREDERIC CRANEFIKLD, Editor. 
Secretary VV. S. H. S., Madison, Wis. 
Entered as second-class matter May 13, 1912, 
at the postoffice at Madison, Wisconsin, under 
the Act of March 3, 1879. 
Advertising rates made known on application. 
Wisconsin State Horticulture Society 
Membership fees fifty cents, which includes 
twenty-five cents subscription price of Wiscon- 
sin Horticulture. Remit fifty cents to Frederic 
Cranefield, Editor, Madison, Wis. 
Remit by Postal or Express Money Order. 
A dollar bill may be sent safely if wrapped or 
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Personal checks accepted. 
Postage stamps not accepted. 
OFFICERS 
N. A. Rasmussen, President Oshkosh 
J. A. Hays, Vice-President Gays Mills 
W A. Toole, Treasurer Baraboo 
F. Cranefield, Secretary Madison 
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 
N. A. Rasmussen Exofficio 
£■ A. Hays Ex-Officio 
W. A. Toole Ex-Officio 
F. Cranefield Ex Officio 
1st Dist., A. Martini Lake Geneva 
2nd Dist., R. J. Coe Ft. Atkinson 
3rd Dist., E. L. Roloff Madison 
4th Dist., Henry Wilke Milwaukee 
5th Dist., Jas. Livingstone Milwaukee 
6th Dist., E. S. Bedell Manitowoc 
<th Dist., L. H. Palmer Baraboo 
8th Dist., M. 0. Potter Grand Rapids 
9th Dist., L. E. Birmingham Sturgeon Bay 
10th Dist., F. T. Brunk Eau Claire 
Ilth Dist., J. F. Hauser Bayfield 
BOARD OF MANAGERS 
N. A. Rasmussen F. Cranefield 
W. A. Toole 
Pussy 
Dear little pussy! Just look at 
the dear little creature climbing 
the tree, how cunning she is ! Shall 
we permit her to climb the tree? 
Not on your life! Get a gun or 
lacking that, a rock of suitable size 
or a little arsenate of lead on a 
piece of meat. Because if we let 
pussy climb the tree the dear little 
devil will kill every robin, catbird 
or other song bird in the tree. If 
you don’t believe that your own 
dear pet pussy will do such a 
thing watch her and you will be 
convinced. 
A Phenomenon in Horticulture 
We once taught Botany. May 
the Lord forgive us. It was in 
the day when Botany consisted of 
chasing a floral specimen through 
a key to find its name, and when 
found, or when we believed it was 
found, to preserve a nicely ticketed 
and pressed specimen suitably 
mounted in a neat book called a 
herbarium. That was a truly in- 
teresting feat. On one occasion 
it was dangerous. Here is the rea- 
son. Our class came across a lit- 
tle bush that was covered with a 
very pretty flower. The species 
being unknown to us, it was decid- 
ed forthwith to make its beauty the 
subject of analysis and trace it 
through “Bergen’s” key to the 
flowering plants. At great cost of 
pains we accomplished the task in 
the class and finally agreed that 
the bloom was that of Amarillidae 
