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| FOR BOTH AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL 1 
I GROWERS OF THE GLADIOLUS, DAHLIA, IRIS, ETC. { 
Entered as second-class matter March 31, 1914, at post office at | 
Calcium, N.Y., under act of March 3. 1879. \ 
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| PUBLISHED MONTHLY ON THE FIRST OF THE f 
f MONTH BY MADISON COOPER, CALCIUM, N. Y. I 
Subscription price: Three years, $2.00; One year, $1.00. 
Flowers — An Appreciation. 
By Alfred C. Hottes. 
(In Humanitarian Monthly.) 
T HE FLOWER is the growing 
masterpiece. Great painters have 
created for us color symphonies 
or inspired thought pictures. 
From the same paint is made the 
airy landscapes of Corot, the ele- 
gance of Velasquez, the crude beauty 
of Millet, the infinite detail of Bot- 
ticelli, the warm coloring of Rubens, 
and even the impressionistic con- 
trasts of our modern cubists. In 
the plant such master strokes have 
been made repeatedly. The lover 
of the flower may see in it all 
the qualities of the man-made can- 
vas. He finds exquisite daintiness, 
incomparable complexity, fantastic 
arrangement, unwonted simplicity, 
sumptuous coloration, and the great- 
est diversity of form. 
He finds a character study. The 
Pansy is a wit ; the Poppy, a dancing 
girl ; the Water Lily, a nymph ; the 
Orchid, a bird ; the Rose, a queen ; 
the Snowdrop, a white fairy ; all 
Daisies are fortune-tellers ; and Jack- 
in-the-Pulpits, preachers; the Pitcher 
plant is a vampire ; the Indian pipes 
are paupers, pale and living on 
charity ; and the gaudy-colored 
Monkey flower is a montebank. 
Flowers are even actors- there 
are comedians, heroes, blushing in- 
genues, and bold, coarse villians; 
still others in their positions of opu- 
lence and dignity are spectators. 
And the play is called Flora. 
The flowers are the natural jewels 
of the world ; they are the more 
valuable because their charm is so 
fleeting. They are gems to be 
studied, for each one is different. 
Mineral jewels have rarity, but their 
charms are paltry. 
Flowers are the accompaniments 
of civilization, not luxuries. They 
grace the nuptial, they cheer the 
unfortunate, bedeck beauty and fur- 
nish, when properly used, a benedic- 
tion to the human life. 
Unfortunately we do not all have 
our own greenhouses, and in the winter 
we must adopt the flowers grown for 
us. Still more to be regretted is the 
GLADIOLUS — SUMMER BEA UTY. 
Originated by A. E. Kunderd and described by 
him as a very choice, deep salmon pink of distinct 
shade. It is tall and showy and one of the most 
dependable sorts as a cut flower, throwing a strong 
flower spike from rather small corms and with 
many open blooms at a time. 
fact that for many persons the summer 
garden is impossible. But most cities 
have them and unconsciously we trend 
toward the green grass and the fra- 
grant flower valleys. Botanical gar- 
dens, public parks and private 
estates are becoming more and 
more appreciated. Lilac Sunday is 
now a definite holiday in many 
cities. 
You know the names of your 
friends, of course. Because you 
know their names, their faces, their 
joys and their life, they are infinitely 
more interesting to you than the 
general mass of men. So with the 
flowers, know their names, their 
faces, their joys and their life. 
Finally you will be glad to know 
their relatives, then your scope of 
acquaintance will have been broad- 
ened. Some of the flowers’ poor 
relatives are most interesting, even 
if they are not beautiful. This will 
lead to a study of the botanical re- 
lationship ; then every flower will 
be worthy of note. Some plants 
may then be attractive whether 
they produce bloom or do not. 
Bacon says, "Men come to build 
stately sooner than to garden finely; 
as if gardening were the greater 
perfection.” So the most beautiful 
gardens are always those in the 
mind. It matters not how unsuc- 
cessful your flowers are, the garden 
you meant it to be is still in your 
mind and it will have an interest 
for you. The garden of your neigh- 
bor will never have that charm. 
Flowers are to be appreciated to 
the same degree that is beautiful 
music, true painting, towering 
mountains, exalted literature, in- 
spired sculpture, stirring poetry, 
and noble landscapes. Happy hu- 
manity results from broad sym- 
pathies. Do we not agree with 
Emerson that "Wherever snow falls, 
[ Concluded on page 88. ] 
