people are well-nigh wearied of the subject. But, on perusing the pages of a certain much-heralded work on the World's Columbian Exposition and there finding under the subject of Floriculture, "twenty Azalea Mollis all in pink and white, flowering in June" recorded as one of the most notable exhibits, and the further interesting information that "Roses were planted six inches deep on account of the little root they had on arrival," one is forced to the conclusion that possibly there may still be found in that department something as yet unchronicled but well deserving of our thoughtful consideration.

The domain of Horticulture is today too broad and too comprehensive to be treated as one subject, even if one had the requisite experience in all its departments. Its great subdivisions, pomology, viticulture, market gardening - all well illustrated at Chicago each a noble industry in itself, with its own peculiar conditions and special interests have, with the exception of their direct dependence upon the soil for existence, little in common with that horticulture which ministers to the artistic perceptions rather than the physical necessities of mankind, whose cultivation exalts and ennobles the mind as no other art ever can, and gives to Horticulture its strongest hold upon the hearts of our people. Horticulture without Ornamental Horticulture would prove but a feeble attraction.

Ornamental Horticulture is the only horticulture with which I am familiar, and to the consideration of that subject I have confined this brief paper, purposely avoiding the infliction upon you of a detailed list or description of the exhibits at Chicago or statistics of any kind.

As illustrated at the World's Fair, Ornamental Horticulture may be considered, first, in its capacity as an indispensable feature of the equipment of the grounds and buildings;

Second, as illustrating the varied horticultural attractions, resources, and industries of countries and states remote from each other and widely differing in climate and topography; and

Third, as offering an opportunity for individuals and firms engaged in horticultural pursuits, to exhibit to the world in friendly competition the results of their labors.

Under the first heading properly belongs the landscape work. Without the aid of the landscape architect in designing and locating, and the gardener in adorning, those beautiful buildings —

triumphs of architecture as they were would have lost much of their impressiveness. It was the magic of our great landscape architect that made the setting for all those jewels; that brought them into harmony and united them with subtle skill into one great and almost perfect whole. I say "almost perfect" for one could not help regretting that while Horticulture was recognized in part, to the extent of beautiful lawns, yet in the planting the finishing touches were missing, and it was evident that some one had forgotten that floral adornment is just as necessary in such a picture as green lawns and picturesque lagoons. This omission was painfully apparent in that otherwise charming feature, the Wooded Island. The design and conception of the rose garden here was a grand thing, and the general planning of beds and paths good, but in the treatment of its shores, color was the one thing lacking. There are schools of painting that indulge in absence of color; nevertheless color has a place in art. It exists in Nature and is always pleasing in the landscape. But whatever individual preferences may be, it is not too much to claim that in a World's Fair all schools of gardening should have had an opportunity. The decoration of the Wooded Island with colored lanterns at night was in questionable taste. The best that can be said of it is, that its artificial effect suited well for holiday purposes, and made an impression by appealing to the love of the spectacular. Horticultural Hall next claims our attention. An ill-appointed structure, unsuited for the purpose it was supposed to serve, its principal claim to notice was that it was the biggest thing of the kind on earth. This building should not have been constructed without the best horticultural advice obtainable. In any event its central apartment should never have been allotted to competitive exhibits, but its decoration and furnishing should have been done and paid for under Department control as a part of the general adornment, in the same manner as the landscaping, lighting, or painting.

The management, having disregarded the oft-repeated warnings and entreaties of practical horticulturists regarding the necessity for giving to this section a full year's start ahead of the other departments of the Fair, found themselves confronted with an immense building and little to put in it. A loud appeal for help was then made. Massachusetts helped a little, but it was mainly through the efforts of New York and Pennsylvania that a present

able appearance was finally 'secured. The horticulturists of these States applied for and received the share, to which they were fairly entitled, of the liberal appropriations made by their legisla tures, and then took hold with a will to help out the management. Can any words of condemnation then be too severe for the neglect of proper supervision, the bad judgment, the ingratitude, which, after the hall had been filled, largely through the generous action of distant States, permitted it to be desecrated by cheap lemonade stands and peddlers of knickknacks, soap, and candy?

Let us now consider the displays made in the name of the various States and foreign countries. Unfortunately but few of these were worthy of passing notice. The West did almost nothing; Illinois, which should have been first, was conspicuous by the absence of any respectable endeavor on her part, the surroundings of her State Building, even, being a most miserable attempt. Outside of New York and Pennsylvania, no State exhibit of any great pretensions was made. Between these two there was a strong effort for supremacy. The character of the exhibits made by these states, many of the plants contributed having been cultivated within their borders for the past forty years, showed that for a generation, at least, horticulture has had a strong foothold there, and their public spirited action is entitled to all praise; and of Ontario's exhibit this may be said with equal truth.

But I believe that the principle followed in these instances was not the best. Suppose, that instead of Japan's faithful represen tation of native gardening processes, Mexico's curious cacti, New Zealand's wonderful tree ferns, and Holland's grand collective exhibit of hardy azaleas and rhododendrons, these countries had contributed merely a diversified exhibit of greenhouse plants, what a loss in interest and educational value the horticultural department would have suffered. The enterprise and rivalry of individuals engaged in the trade might safely have been depended upon for miscellaneous displays of plants, from all quarters of the globe, but States should have taken advantage of the opportunity to set forth their own native resources and localized industries. What an exhibit Massachusetts might have made, for instance, with a naturally planted collection of her native flora. A bit of meadow, a rocky hillside, gay with innumerable species of shrubs and wild flowers, from the first pussy willow and hepaticas of

spring time, all through a range of floral loveliness that for variety and beauty can be excelled nowhere, down to the last purple aster of autumn!

If you would learn whether the people are interested in such things, look over in that further corner of this hall any Saturday afternoon next summer, and see them crowd about the little wild treasures collected from the woods and fields. Let the display of roses, orchids, and lilies be ever so gorgeous, you will always find that corner holding its own.

It may be asked whether the advocacy of such a course is not detrimental to the interests of Commercial Floriculture. I say Floriculture will never suffer because a love of Nature is inculcated by her followers. The only reverses ever sustained by Commercial Floriculture have been when it has shown a tendency to part company with Nature and drift into paths of excessive artificiality.

"This thou shouldst know, who from the painted feature
Of shifting Fashion, couldst thy brethren turn

Unto the love of ever-youthful Nature,

And of a beauty fadeless and eterne."

In the old fashioned garden connected with her State building Massachusetts rose to the full height of her opportunity. This was one of the gems of the Fair. It was, as Mr. W. R. Smith truly said, "well conceived and elegantly carried out."

In considering the competitive displays in the different classes, the first point claiming our attention is the provision made for this department. As before suggested, the various buildings intended for these exhibits should have been constructed with direct reference to their future contents, but they were not. Had this been done, we should have been spared the painful sensation of seeing rare and delicately reared tropical specimens, gradually chilling to death from standing for months on the cold floor under the same roof and in the same atmosphere with tough, hardy and half-hardy plants. The exhibitors on the Wooded Island were well provided for while the spring weather lasted, but the porous soil of which this artificial ground was of necessity constructed, and the shameful neglect of proper provision for watering during the hot summer season, made havoc with the herbaceous plantings at the time of the greatest attendance of visitors. Nevertheless, the Wooded Island was a most attractive spot, and through its

influence the use of hardy plants in gardening must have received a great impetus throughout the West.

A few of the individual exhibits which were of superlative merit were Pitcher & Manda's magnificent display of decorative plants; the cannas from Dreer, Vaughan, Pierson, and Craig; the cacti from Blanc; the rhododendrons from Moser and Waterer, the last including a most instructive collection of seedlings, and the fancy caladiums from Rio Janeiro, which were a revelation. In general the irises, pæonies, campanulas, poppies, pansies, azaleas and other outdoor displays on the Island in the early months were wonderfully fine. The opportunity given to the seedsmen for the competitive exhibits of florists' flowers, including cyclamens, cinerarias, primroses, and calceolarias, was taken full advantage of, and although sharply criticised at the time, proved to be well worth all it cost, for it attracted many thousands of visitors to the grounds before the Fair proper was opened, and the exhibits were of the highest merit, clearly demonstrating the marvellous results possible from close attention to the development and improvement of specialties. It is much to be regretted that of gladioli, which are now exported from this country by millions, the only exhibit of any extent was a foreign one. Tuberoses, another important American product, were scarcely seen. The extensive display of horticultural implements of American manufacture; also the examples of greenhouse construction, heating, and ventilation shown by our horticultural builders, were most creditable, considering the opportunities afforded.

The system of judging and awards at the World's Fair has been the cause of much dissatisfaction, and it is not probable that it will be regarded as worthy of adoption on any future occasion. It sounded much better in theory than it proved to be in practice. The one-judge plan is un-American in principle, and places too much responsibility on one man ever to become popular. The interests of every competitor in an exhibition demand that the chances of an unfair verdict be minimized as far as possible. Against a decision reached after due deliberation by three experts, no protest can have any weight. This question of judging is of vital importance to every society, for unless exhibitors are satisfied that every precaution has been taken to secure full justice they will stay away.