52 
April, 1920 
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! PUBLISHED MONTHLY ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH BY I 
MADISON COOPER, CALCIUM, N.Y. 
FOR BOTH AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL FLOWER GROWERS 
i Subscription Price : OUR MOTTO: Canadian and Foreign 1 
| $1.00 per year. Special favors to none, and a Subscription Price i 
1 3 years for $2.00. square deal to all. $1.25 per year. I 
Growers are invited to contribute articles or notes over their own 
signatures, but the Editor reserves the right to reject anything which 
in his judgment is not conducive to the general welfare of the business. 
Copyright 1919 by 3Iadison Cooper 
Vol. VII April, 1920 No. 4 
" He who sows the ground with care and diligence acquires a 
greater stock of religious merit than he could gain by the 
repetition of ten thousand prayers.’’— Zoroaster. 
Flower Growing and Spiritual Development. 
On page 60 of this issue we read about James E. Russell 
and his wonderful development of refined traits of character 
through flower growing. As explained by Dr. Neeley, during 
his early years he was most interested in horses and hunting, 
but after the developing of his character in this connection, 
he graduated, might we say, from these particular interests, 
and took up flower growing as his chief pursuit. Dr. Neeley 
explains how it served to broaden and refine the character 
of the village blacksmith, James E. Russell. 
The influence of flower growing is not only toward re- 
finement, if undertaken in the proper way; but contact 
with the soil in the proper spirit, leads to a development of 
individuality and spirituality which are unmistakable. The 
great Persian Philosopher, Zoroaster, whose greatest words 
we print at the head of our editorial department each 
month, well understood this influence. People of the present 
day if they could only stop and ponder this subject, and if 
they could only understand how and why humanity is de- 
veloped by labor in contact with the soil, would be more 
willing to give time and attention to gardening pursuits. 
Madison Cooper. 
Giving Away Flowers. 
The article by Mrs. Lester Bellamy on page 50, en- 
titled “ Sanity in Flower Growing,” touches on a subject to 
which we would call special attention. 
Many people, with all good intentions, grow flowers and 
distribute them among their friends with a lavish hand, and 
we are thoroughly persuaded that not more than 25% of 
the recipients properly appreciate the gift. Of course, any 
one will, in a way, appreciate flowers. Flowers show a bit 
of color, and are showy, and anyone is glad to carry bloom 
with them, and display it as occasion offers. Whether they 
get this as a gift, or purchase it, or grow it themselves, does 
not worry the average individual. In fact, those who secure 
the flowers without price are inclined to think they are 
very smart, and have acquired something valuable without 
paying for it. As before stated, perhaps one person out of 
four really appreciates a gift of this kind, and though all 
may profess great gratitude, it is a question whether the 
gratitude is genuine. 
Let us not be too pessimistic or too hard-headed about 
this matter, but let us look the problem squarely in the 
face. Mrs. Bellamy has expressed our opinion as well as 
we could express it ourselves. By all means give flowers 
to the sick and to any worthy cause, but we would caution 
the lavish giver, and suggest that flowers have a value the 
same as other gifts. If one can induce one’s friends to grow 
flowers by giving them bloom from time to time they are 
accomplishing a very meritorious work, but when it comes 
to giving flowers to the same friends year after year, if they 
are able to grow flowers for themselves, it is bad taste and 
a lack of judgment. 
Think it over and if Mrs. Bellamy is wrong, and if we are 
wrong about this matter, tell us your opinion in The 
Flower Grower. 
Madison Cooper. 
Subscription Prices. 
We are struggling, and have been struggling for some 
months, to keep the subscription price of The Flower 
Grower at $1.00 per year. Other magazines have been ad- 
vancing their prices but we have maintained ours steadily. 
Last month we sent out a circular letter appeal to all of our 
subscribers to assist us in this work, and offered special 
inducements for clubs of three or more new subscriptions 
sent in at one time. This special offer is still in effect and 
will not be recalled until July 1st. 
We have already had a hearty response from many sub- 
scribers, but there are doubtless others who have been pre- 
vented from one cause or another in doing anything along 
the line suggested, and to these we would call attention to 
the fact that the limit of time is not far in the future, and 
would urge that they bestir themselves before the busy 
gardening season arrives. The great work which The 
Flower Grower is doing for flower growers deserves con- 
sideration and assistance. 
Is Ambition Dead ? 
Your editorial under the above heading in your December 6th 
issue is noted with interest. 
No, ambition is not dead, but it is taking a wrong direction, and 
the remedy is perhaps not as plain as it should be. 
Your suggestion to encourage reading is one of the very best 
that can be made, but it is difficult to interest the rising generation in 
reading. They are too busy, and time is too much taken up by 
trying to find some new form of entertainment. If people could 
only be induced to read it would doubtless solve the problem to a 
great extent. Any man who does not read the trade literature in 
his own particular line is surely heading for the discard, and people 
find this out only when past the time when reading would do them 
the most good. If young people could be induced to form the reading 
habit early in life it would go far toward solving the problem presented 
in your editorial. It matters not so much what they read when young 
providing it is at least harmless, and so long as they form the read- 
ing habit and read regularly. If this habit is kept up until mature 
years, naturally reading of a more solid and substantial character is 
taken up and that is where the benefit is derived. 
Back of all this is the question of education. In what direction 
does our present education tend ? Does not our present educa- 
tional system teach the young that if they follow a certain course 
of study they will be qualified to hold positions that do not require 
labor ? Should not our institutions of education teach primarily the 
dignity and honor of work, just plain ordinary labor without frills? 
Should not the primary grades teach children that every person 
owes it to the world that he should earn his own living ? Should not 
the earning of one’s living by some useful pursuit be the first ele- 
ment of good citizenship ? 
It seems that there is no doubt but what the present tendency of 
the day is toward demoralization and disintegration. It is to be 
hoped that the tendency will be checked before too much damage is 
done,— Madison Cooper in Horticulture , Boston. 
