THE BATTALION.
7
away from the noise of humanity and
the turmoil of life. It is here he chooses
to spend the evening-of his life.
The culture of flowers is very ancient.
Indeed we are told that the first man was
placed in a garden. We imagine this
garden to be full of the most beautiful
flowers, giving off their rare and delicate
odors—the hum of the industrious bee,
as it came to sip the nectar, broke the
stillness of the day.
We read that the ancient Greeks and
Romans reveled in roses and that they
used them lavishly at their feasts. That
Nero at his banqueting “showered rose
water upon his guests,” and when Cleo
patra sought to make an impression upon
Anthony “she had roses spread over the
floor.” In modern times we have had
the “war of roses.”
While the culture of flowers is very
ancient, yet it has not been carried on to
any great extent where a nation was not
civilized. Theiefore their culture is
somewhat an index to the degree of civ
ilization of a nation.
Their culture is among the fine arts and
it is only after a nation has developed
somewhat of an aesthetic taste that they
are most highly appreciated. Our nation
has made most rapid strides in landscape
gardening, such as making boulevards,
embellishing cemeteries and laying out
National parks. A landscape gardener
is now often consulted as well as the
architect, in the planning and building of
American homes.
Landscape gardening and floriculture
are a part of horticulture, all of which
may be called agriculture specialized.
It is only after a soil is brought to a high
state of cultivation and people become
somewhat thickly settled that theSe
special branches of Agriculture arq
properly appreciated.
The last census showed that over fifty-
two milion dollars were invested in nur
series, green houses, etc., but as a more
striking proof of how much flowers are
appreciated, I might state that in New
York City during the winter of ’92 rose
buds of the American Beauty, Paul
Neron and Magna Charles variety often
sold from 75cts. to $1. a piece, and as
much as $25 was spent for a single
hand bouquet.
Here, if flowers were so valuable in
dollars and cents, some young men would
be greatly indebted to the campus de
partment for the number of rose buds
which disappeared during last Christmas.
But the true value of flowers here is not
expressed in dollars and cents, their in
fluence is flelt in the home of the human
family.
Experienced travelers when going
through a sparsely settled country are
said to always select a home for their
stopping place which grows flowers in
the yard or garden, and that they seldom
fail to have a, hospitable reception.
Houses in a city having trees and
flowers surrounding them are said to
rent for much more than those having
none, other things being equal. Since
flowers are borne on trees and shrubs, as
well as plants, their bloom in the spring
and early summer, together with their
varigated autumnal foliage helps in no
small way to beautify the landscape and
increase human happiness.
Says one : “No other method can be
devised for rendering farming a pleasant
occupation to the young, than the judi
cious use of trees and garden beauty
about the grounds.” Our attachments
for trees and flowers become almost as
strong as to persons, and if there be fine
ones growing about the home they will
add new strength to the chain which
binds the heart of youth to the hearth-