492 Wisconsin State Agricultural Society. 
eral ferns more than three feet long, a few plumes of grasses, one 
or two spikes of Holyhocks, Gladiolas, large Zinnias, and Dahlias, all 
cut with very long stems, that gave me great delight. The foliage, 
from a little distance, reminded one of the tropics. Bright, green, 
feathery ferns, and trailing vines, with a few bright flowers, are 
used in profusion in decorating our houses. Ferns were never in 
such demand as at the present time. 
Flowers for the School-Room. —We do not half appreciate the 
importance of bringing flowers into our schools. They are, many 
times, to the mind what exercise is to the body; a bright bouquet, 
a mound of fresh, green moss from the woods, or a healthy, bloom¬ 
ing plant, will refresh the tired mind of the student, and enable 
him to renew the tedious lesson with new life and willing heart; 
will give to the weary teachers (God bless them) rest and comfort. 
We will take a short extract from a note written bv a model teach- 
er to a lady who occasionally sent her a bouquet. u One bouquek 
you sent me last winter, will ever be fresh in my memory. There 
was nothing cheerful in the school-room, not even a map; the 
school was large; some very large pupils to get along with, and 
thinking I had such a large school, made it harder. I went into 
school one day greatly discouraged; your daughter came and gave 
me a bouquet. I knew not what to sa} r or how to thank her. It 
awakened my better self; the tears would flow. A day never passed 
after that, that I did not try to say something cheerful to them.” 
Who can say after reading this testimonial that flowers have no in¬ 
fluence in the school-room? 
A Floral Service. —“ There is, in Old Gate, London, a rector 
who has for years past preached an annual flower sermon to the 
school children of his own and surrounding districts, The whole 
of the children sat in the body of the church, which was tastefully 
hung with garlands of choice flowers, while the adults occupied the 
galleries.” I can conceive of no service more inspiring or impress¬ 
ively beautiful than this one, where the modest violet from the wild 
wood mingles its perfume with that of the rare exotic, and the fra¬ 
grance ascends as an offering to God in the highest; for truly u floral 
apostles” speak more loudly than man ever spoke, and point with 
unerring finger to God the Maker of heaven and earth, and to His 
wonderful works, and to the home eternal, where flowers never 
fade, and the perfume shall be “wafted upon angel’s wings.” Why 
