Chapter XXXI: Conclusion

It is clear that Rural Welfare, as far at least as it rests upon Wealth, is to be gained by careful study of laws of nature and human nature quite independent of mere wishes. The only way to improve the present situation of affairs in any community is to use the natural forces within reach to advantage. All the growth of the past is preparation for more growth and better fruit in the present and future. The farmer who knows most about the fundamental principles of property and property rights in society is most likely to best serve his community, as well as himself.

Still it is equally clear that the chief elements of Rural Welfare are not mere wealth. Wealth is but the material out of which the external machinery of welfare is formed. Every way essential to progress in any degree, it does not give the chief test of progress. No one is gaining the full use of his wealth until it is well spent for the welfare that is strictly personal,—health, wisdom and virtue. No society, however wealthy, has reached true welfare till all its members appreciate the higher welfare, and make wealth-seeking a means for securing it.

Rural communities can take advantage of many inexpensive ways of adding to their welfare without great wealth. The natural surroundings of the country home give development to ability and courage in children that are better than wealth. The same principles of thrift that are to be cultivated for the sake of material comforts apply to the larger welfare that a wise enjoyment of nature’s gifts and nature’s lessons may bring. The thrifty farmer comes nearest of all men to the ideal condition of the wise man, expressed in the wish, “Give me neither poverty nor riches.” He can have enough to comfortably house, clothe and feed his family in the midst of surroundings as wholesome as the world affords. He can give his children, by the aid of their healthy bodies and strong hearts, as good opportunities for education as any can use. He has a natural leisure for self-culture in the use of papers and books, if he tries to use it, and his relations with neighbors of similar abilities are more human, more true, than those found in any other circumstances. If farmers live as they ought, their homes are centers of true hospitality, true sympathy for human rights; and with a little more constant care for neighborly spirit would come nearest to giving the true foundation for manly and womanly character in children, and so in their parents.

A family of eight children grew up on a farm of little more than one hundred acres, chopped out of the wilderness. Father and mother worked hard and strove thriftily to make their children useful. A school was the first requisite, even though it must be taught in the one room that was kitchen, library and parlor, if not the bedroom, too. The church was equally important, though it took the choicest lot on the farm for its location. Newspapers and wholesome books were as needful as daily bread. The household was a center of cheer and interest for the entire community. The first Sunday School and the first Temperance Society of all that new country were organized there. The trend of national life towards higher ideals of justice for all humanity was first recognized there, so that three of the four votes cast in that township for the first liberty ticket were connected with the same household. The whole world came nearer these youth because they learned about it.

When opportunity came for larger growth in college training, all but the oldest boy and the oldest girl sought it eagerly. These made the old homestead and a neighboring farm worthy centers of the same true influence. The three sons and the three daughters whose education lifted them to a little wider field of influence are all recognized as having been leaders in this country, and their names are cherished by thousands who have known their work. The thrift that has made them useful in the truest welfare of the world was cultivated and trained on that little farm.

The little farm became itself an evidence of thrift, attractive in its beauty as well as in its productiveness. It gave to the father and mother a satisfactory living till both died, the mother at eighty, and the father at nearly a hundred. Riches they never needed, for they had enough with the blessings of children and children’s children scattered through the world. The farm is still in the family, doing its good work for the fourth and fifth generations, in the same wholesome way and with promise of never-ending welfare. A little wealth well used means enormous welfare.

The farm homes of America will be the seat of America’s welfare if their occupants know all they can of the thrift that gives power, and do as well as they know. Farmers who think carefully and earnestly will not expect to overturn nature as it is, but to use it for all it is worth. This little book is intended to help toward such a use of power and wealth as may bring genuine welfare. Its author hopes in this way to pay in part the debt he owes to the little farm.

INDEX.

Abandoned farms, 303.

Aggregation, disadvantages of, 197;
limit to, 196;
of forces, 57;
of industry, 191.

Aims of industry, 21.

“Anarchy,” 329.

Annual fluctuations in prices, 91, 98, 100, 104.

Arbitration in labor conflicts, 268.

Assessment, direct taxes, 353.

Association, complex, 55;
compound, 56;
methods of, 55;
simple, 55.

“Autonomy,” 328.

Balance of trade, 152.

Bank business, 148;
inspection, 151;
liabilities, 155;
loans, 153;
resources, 155.

Banking, safety of, 155.

Banks and banking, 140;
described, 141;
government, 147;
national, 144;
state, 136.

Bankruptcy, 179.

Beef prices, 100-106.

Bimetalism, 126, 128.

Bonanza farms, 201.

Bonds, exemption from taxation, 369;
deferred payment, 160.

Borrowed money, 164, 284.

Borrowers and lenders, 154.

Bounties, 207.

Boycott, the, 262.

Business security, 224.

Capital a timesaver, 40;
circulating or fixed, 40;
conservative, 44;
defined and classified, 38;
distinguished from wealth, 38;
floating, 43;
in farming, 43;
of a country, 39;
proceeds of, 279;
prudent adjustment of, 314;
“timid,” 44;
unproductive, 42.

Cattle, numbers of, 9, 83.

Character in production, 47.

Cheap living, 237.

Cheap money drives out good, 125.

Churches, taxes on, 354.

Civilization, developing, 53.

Clearing house, 149.

Clearing systems, 150.

Coinage, 118;
of the United States, 119.

Coin a country’s capital, 133;
as currency, 131.

“Collectivism,” 331.

Combinations for farming, 204;
for production, advantages, 193.

Commerce overestimated, 61.

“Communism,” 330.

Compensation, actual and nominal, 236.

Complex association, 55.

Compound association, 56.

Conclusion, 373.

Conflict between wage-earners and profit-makers, 257.

Conservative influence as security for business, 224.

Consumption, coöperative, 335;
for growth, 317;
luxurious, 319;
of wealth, 307;
wasteful, 322.

Contents, table of, xi.

Control of natural forces, 28.

Coöperative consumption, 335;
industry, 272;
stores, etc., 335.

Copyright, 210.

Corn, acreage and yield, 84;
prices of, New York, 87-91;
consumption of, 84.

Cost and value, 69.

Courts of arbitration, 268.

Cows, numbers of, 9, 83.

Credit by accounts, 133;
by due bills, 134;
currency, 135, 117;
expanding, 167;
expansion, 158.

Credits, taxation of, 359.

Crops in United States since 1850, 10;
yield of, 83-86.

Crop-year, 78.

Currency, 130;
advantages of national bank, 146;
credit, 135.

Custom, or duty, 357.

Deferred settlement and credit expansion, 158;
in exchange, 138.

Department stores, 203.

Destructive consumption, 324.

Developing civilization, 53.

Diminishing returns, law of, 79.

Discipline in production, 47.

Distribution of wealth, 233.

Division of labor, advantages, 182;
disadvantages, 188;
economy of, 180;
limits, 184;
on farms, 186.

Duty, or custom, 357.

Economic functions of government, 337.

Economic machinery of government, 346.

Economic science, 2.

Efficiency, requisites, 53.

Enlightened vs. savage, 50.

“Equality of opportunity,” 333.

Equity in wages, 277.

Exchange, advantages, 58;
in distribution, 234;
in production, 58;
limits of, 60;
its machinery, 109.

Excise collections, 357.

Exemptions from taxes, 354.

Exertion as related to value, 69.

Expanding credit, 167.

Farm crops in United States since 1850, 10;
interests, fluctuation of, 9;
products, prices of, 78;
stock in United States, 9, 83.

Farming combinations, 204.

Farms in the United States, 9, 304;
small, for homes, 202.

Federations of labor, 267.

Final utility, 67.

Financial crisis, 169.

Floating capital, 43.

Fluctuation of prices, 87-108.

Forces in production, 27.

Franchises, 211.

Free communication, 109.

Freedom in markets, 75.

General welfare, 1.

Gold, ratio to silver, 124;
standard, 128.

Government and universal needs, 339.

Government chief incentive to production, 206.

Government, ends of, 338;
stable, 18.

Government banks, 147;
churches, 342;
debts, 368, 370.

Government lands, 294.

Government machinery, 346.

Government resources, 346.

Government wards, 342.

Governmental limits, 337.

Grains, consumption of, 84.

Gresham’s law, 125.

Hard times, 172;
causes of, 173;
cure for, 178;
remedies, 176.

Higgling of the market, 73.

Hogs, number in United States, 9, 83;
prices of, 95-99.

Horses, number in U. S., 9, 83.

Human energy, 27.

Ideal manliness, 49.

Improved farming, effect of, 81.

Imprudent consumption, 319.

Incentive of good government, 206.

Income taxes, 360.

Indirect taxes, 356.

Individual Efficiency, 49.

Individual responsibility for use of wealth, 310.

Individualism, 328.

Inheritance taxes, 363.

Insurance, applications of, 229, 239;
governmental control of, 228;
methods of, 226;
nature of, 225.

Interest and rent distinguished, 279;
principles of, 283;
reasons for, 283;
uses of, 291;
varying rates of, 286.

Invention in farming, 36.

Labor and savings, relative importance, chart, 53.

Labor conflicts, arbitration in, 268.

Labor defined and classified, 32;
operative, executive, speculative, 35;
physical, mental, moral, 34.

Labor restrictions, 274.

Land as a force, 29.

Land rent, 293.

Land values, decrease of, 302;
sources of, 297;
variation, 300.

Legal tender, 166.

License, 210, 347.

Live stock in United States, 9, 83.

Loan associations, 290.

Lockout, the, 263.

Luxury, legal restrictions upon, 321;
not easily defined, 319.

Luxurious consumption, 319.

Manliness, ideal, 49.

Market, the higgling of, 73.

Market price, 77.

Markets, 72; freedom in, 75.

Measures, weights and, 114.

Methods of association, 55.

Monometalism, 126.

Monopoly privileges, 209.

Mortgage note, 159.

Mules, number of in United States, 9, 83.

Multiple standard, the, 129.

National bank currency, advantages of, 146.

National banks, 144.

National standards of value, 128.

“Nationalism,” 332.

Nationalization of industry, 275.

Natural forces, 28.

“Nihilism,” 329.

Normal value, 70.

Oats, acreage and yield, 9, 84;
prices of New York, 87-91;
consumption of, 84.

Obstacles to fair adjustment of wages, 259.

Over-production, 172.

Ownership, 15.

Panic, financial, 179.

Patents, 210.

Personal attainments, 45.

Population, drifting to cities, 303.

Population in United States, 9, 83

Pork, prices of, 95-99.

Power not wealth, 6.

Preface, vii-ix.

Premiums, 206.

Price of products and rent, 299.

Price, the market, 77.

Prices of beef, 100-105;
corn, oats, wheat, 87;
of farm products, annual fluctuations, 93, 98, 100, 100, 104;
of farm products, fluctuations, 78;
of hogs and pork, 95-101;
of iron, kerosene, silver, and farm wages, 106;
of wheat, England, 93;
of wheat, New York, 87-93.

Principles of taxation, 348.

Proceeds of capital, 279.

Production defined, 21; extended, 25;
forces in, 27.

Productive industries, 21; labor, 32.

Promissory note, 158.

Profit sharing, 269.

Profits defined, 236, 241;
fluctuation in, 255;
in agriculture, 254;
in competition, 252;
offset by losses, 256;
tendency of, 253;
variation in, 251.

Progress in welfare, 17.

Provision for future wants, 316.

Property, public, 16.

Property rights, 15.

Protection of the weak, 343.

Protective tariff, reasons for, 213;
reasons against, 217.

Prudent consumption, 312.

Prudent use of wealth, 312.

Public property, 16.

Public responsibility, 344.

Quality, standard of, 116.

Railroads in United States, miles of, 83.

Ready transportation, 111.

Rent, interest and, 279;
propriety of, 295;
in price of products, 299.

Rents, variation, 300.

Rent values of land, 293.

Repudiation of government debts, 370.

Restrictive legislation, wages, 274.

Restrictions on luxury, 321.

Rural wealth analyzed, 12.

Savage vs. enlightened, 50.

Sheep, number in U. S., 9, 83.

Silver, ratio to gold, 124.

Single land tax, 365.

Skill, 46.

Sliding scale of wages, 271.

Small farms for homes, 202.

Socialism, 330.

Socialistic tendencies, 333.

Social organization for consumption, 328.

Sources of land values, 297.

Special incentives to production, 206.

Special taxes, 364.

Standard, the multiple, 129.

Standards of value, 117; in United

States, 120; fluctuation of, 121.

Standing account, 158.

State banks, 136.

Statistics, use of, 160.

Stock of farms since 1850, in U. S., 9.

Stock company, 161.

Stock exchange, 162.

Strikes, 259.

Supply and demand, 72.

Tariffs, 213, 357.

Tariff, incidental tendencies, 220;
reasons against, 217;
reasons for, 215.

Tax, a single land, 365.

Taxation, direct and indirect, 351;
exemption of bonds, 369;
of credits, 359;
principles of, 348.

Taxes, assessment of, 353;
on incomes, 360;
on inheritance, 363;
on liquors, etc., 359;
peculiar forms of, 358;
special, 364.

Trades unions, 264.

Transformation in production, 24.

Transmutation in production, 24.

Transportation, cost of, 113;
in production, 22;
ready means of, 111.

Trusts, 204;
may cheapen products, 194.

Universal education, 341.

Universal needs met by government, 339.

Usury laws, 288.

Utility as related to value, 66.

Value and cost, 69.

Value, essentials of, 65;
from utility, 66;
in services, 65;
nature of, 63;
normal, 70;
of gold and silver, fluctuations of, 122;
standards of, 117;
the basis of exchange, 63.

Vicious consumption, 323.

Wage-earners in conflict with profit-makers, 257.

Wages and profits, 239.

Wages, defined, 241;
fluctuation of, 248;
obstacles to fair, 259;
of women, 247;
real and nominal, 236;
relation to wheat price, 93;
sliding scale, 271;
tend upward, 248;
under stimulated competition, 245;
under supply and demand, 244;
variation of, 243;
with cheap transportation, 250.

Wants basis of wealth, 14;
certain, 14;
individual, 16.

Waste, false notions of, 325.

Waste in rivalry, 326.

Wasteful consumption, 323.

Watering stock, 162.

Wealth, consumption of, 307;
defined, 5, 51;
distinguished from power, 6;
distribution, 255;
individual use of, 309;
in farming, 3;
in welfare, 1;
for welfare, 307;
material, 12;
(rural) analyzed, 12;
used by individuals, 307.

Weights and measures, 114;
system of, decimal, 115.

Welfare, elements of, 1;
mutual, 2;
progress in, 17, 373.

Wheat, acreage and yield, 84;
crop in United States, 84, 87, 91;
world’s crop, 87, 91.

Wheat prices, annual New York, 91;
in England, 93;
in New York, 87-93.

Women’s wages, 247.

ADVERTISEMENTS.

_The Best and Newest Rural Books_

Books On Leading Topics Connected With Agricultural And Rural Life Are Here Mentioned. Each Book Is The Work Of A Specialist, Under The Editorial Supervision Of Professor L. H. Bailey, Of The Cornell University, Or By Professor Bailey Himself, And Is Readable, Clear-Cut And Practical.

THE RURAL SCIENCE SERIES

Includes books which state the underlying principles of agriculture in plain language. They are suitable for consultation alike by the amateur or professional tiller of the soil, the scientist or the student, and are freely illustrated and finely made.

The following volumes are now ready:

*THE SOIL.* By F. H. KING, of the University of Wisconsin. 303 pp. 45 illustrations. 75 cents.

*THE FERTILITY OF THE LAND.* By I. P. ROBERTS, of Cornell University. Second edition. 421 pp. 45 illustrations. $1.25.

*THE SPRAYING OF PLANTS.* By E. G. LODEMAN, late of Cornell University. 399 pp. 92 illustrations. $1.00.

*MILK AND ITS PRODUCTS.* By H. H. WING, of Cornell University. 280 pp. 33 illustrations. $1.00.

*THE PRINCIPLES OF FRUIT-GROWING.* By L. H. BAILEY. Second edition. 514 pp. 120 illustrations. $1.25.

*BUSH-FRUITS.* By F. W. CARD, of Rhode Island College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. 537 pp. 113 illustrations. $1.50.

*FERTILIZERS.* By E. B. VOORHEES, of New Jersey Experiment Station. Second edition. 335 pp. $1.00.

*THE PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE.* By L. H. BAILEY. Second edition. 300 pp. 92 illustrations. $1.25.

*IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE.* By F. H. KING, University of Wisconsin. 502 pp. 163 illustrations. $1.50.

*THE FARMSTEAD.* By I. P. ROBERTS. 350 pp. 138 illustrations. $1.25.

*RURAL WEALTH AND WELFARE.* By GEORGE T. FAIRCHILD, Ex-President of the Agricultural College of Kansas. 381 pp. 14 charts. $1.25.

New volumes will be added from time to time to the RURAL SCIENCE SERIES. The following are in preparation:

PRINCIPLES OF VEGETABLE GARDENING. By L. H. BAILEY. _In press._

PHYSIOLOGY OF PLANTS. By J. C. ARTHUR, Purdue University.

PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING OF ANIMALS. By W. H. BREWER, of Yale University.

PLANT PATHOLOGY. By B. T. GALLOWAY and associates of U. S. Department of Agriculture.

FEEDING OF ANIMALS. By W. H. JORDAN, of New York State Experiment Station.

FARM POULTRY. By GEORGE C. WATSON, of Pennsylvania State College.

THE GARDEN-CRAFT SERIES

Comprises practical hand-books for the horticulturist, explaining and illustrating in detail the various important methods which experience has demonstrated to be the most satisfactory. They may be called manuals of practice, and though all are prepared by Professor BAILEY, of Cornell University, they include the opinions and methods of successful specialists in many lines, thus combining the results of the observations and experiences of numerous students in this and other lands. They are written in the clear, strong, concise English and in the entertaining style which characterize the author. The volumes are compact, uniform in style, clearly printed, and illustrated as the subject demands. They are of convenient shape for the pocket, and are substantially bound in flexible green cloth.

*THE HORTICULTURIST’S RULE-BOOK.* By L. H. BAILEY. Fourth edition. 312 pp. 75 cts.

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*WORKS BY PROFESSOR BAILEY*

THE EVOLUTION OF OUR NATIVE FRUITS. By L. H. BAILEY, Professor of Horticulture in the Cornell University.

*472 PAGES—125 ILLUSTRATIONS—$2.00*

In this entertaining volume, the origin and development of the fruits peculiar to North America are inquired into, and the personality of those horticultural pioneers whose almost forgotten labors have given us our most valuable fruits is touched upon. There has been careful research into the history of the various fruits, including inspection of the records of the great European botanists who have given attention to American economic botany. The conclusions reached, the information presented, and the suggestions as to future developments, cannot but be valuable to any thoughtful fruit-grower, while the terse style of the author is at its best in his treatment of the subject.

THE EVOLUTION OF OUR NATIVE FRUITS discusses The Rise of the American Grape (North America a Natural Vineland, Attempts to Cultivate the European Grape, The Experiments of the Dufours, The Branch of Promise, John Adlum and the Catawba, Rise of Commercial Viticulture, Why Did the Early Vine Experiments Fail? Synopsis of the American Grapes); The Strange History of the Mulberries (The Early Silk Industry, The "Multicaulis Craze,"); Evolution of American Plums and Cherries (Native Plums in General, The Chickasaw, Hortulana, Marianna and Beach Plum Groups, Pacific Coast Plum, Various Other Types of Plums, Native Cherries, Dwarf Cherry Group); Native Apples (Indigenous Species, Amelioration has begun); Origin of American Raspberry-growing (Early American History, Present Types, Outlying Types); Evolution of Blackberry and Dewberry Culture (The High-bush Blackberry and Its Kin, The Dewberries, Botanical Names); Various Types of Berry-like Fruits (The Gooseberry, Native Currants, Juneberry, Buffalo Berry, Elderberry, High-bush Cranberry, Cranberry, Strawberry); Various Types of Tree Fruits (Persimmon, Custard-Apple Tribe, Thorn-Apples, Nut-Fruits); General Remarks on the Improvement of our Native Fruits (What Has Been Done, What Probably Should Be Done).

THE SURVIVAL OF THE UNLIKE:

A Collection of Evolution Essays Suggested by the Study of Domestic Plants. By L. H. BAILEY, Professor of Horticulture in the Cornell University.

*THIRD EDITION—515 PAGES—22 ILLUSTRATIONS—$2.00*

To those interested in the underlying philosophy of plant life, this volume, written in a most entertaining style, and fully illustrated, will prove welcome. It treats of the modification of plants under cultivation upon the evolution theory, and its attitude on this interesting subject is characterized by the author’s well-known originality and independence of thought. Incidentally, there is stated much that will be valuable and suggestive to the working horticulturist, as well as to the man or woman impelled by a love of nature to horticultural pursuits. It may well be called, indeed, a philosophy of horticulture, in which all interested may find inspiration and instruction.

THE SURVIVAL OF THE UNLIKE comprises thirty essays touching upon The General Fact and Philosophy of Evolution (The Plant Individual, Experimental Evolution, Coxey’s Army and the Russian Thistle, Recent Progress, etc.); Expounding the Fact and Causes of Variation (The Supposed Correlations of Quality in Fruits, Natural History of Synonyms, Reflective Impressions, Relation of Seed-bearing to Cultivation, Variation after Birth, Relation between American and Eastern Asian Fruits, Horticultural Geography, Problems of Climate and Plants, American Fruits, Acclimatization, Sex in Fruits, Novelties, Promising Varieties, etc.); and Tracing the Evolution of Particular Types of Plants (the Cultivated Strawberry, Battle of the Plums, Grapes, Progress of the Carnation, Petunia, The Garden Tomato, etc.).

*CYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN HORTICULTURE*

_COMPRISING DIRECTIONS FOR THE CULTIVATION OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS, AND ORIGINAL DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL THE SPECIES OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES, FLOWERS AND ORNAMENTAL PLANTS KNOWN TO BE IN THE MARKET IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA_

BY L. H. BAILEY

ASSISTED BY MANY EXPERT CULTIVATORS AND BOTANISTS

In Four Quarto Volumes, Illustrated with over Two Thousand Original Engravings

This monumental work, the most comprehensive review of the vegetable world yet made by an American, is now in the press. Though distinctly an American work, not only plants indigenous to the North American continent are mentioned, but also all the species known to be in the horticultural trade in North America, of whatever origin. It is really a survey of the cultivated plants of the world.

The Editor, Professor L. H. Bailey, has been gathering material for this Cyclopedia for many years. He has enlisted the coöperation of men of attainments, either in science or practice everywhere, and the Cyclopedia has the unique distinction of presenting for the first time, in a carefully arranged and perfectly accessible form, the best knowledge of the best specialists in America upon gardening, fruit-growing, vegetable culture, forestry, and the like, as well as exact botanical information. It is all fresh, and not a rehash of old material. No precedent has been followed; the work is upon its own original plan.

Many scientific botanical authors of justly high repute decline to give attention to the important characters of _cultivated_ plants, confining their work to the species in the original forms only. Professor Bailey takes the view that a subject of commercial importance, one which engages the attention and affects the livelihood of thousands of bright people, is decidedly worthy the investigation of the trained botanist. In the Cyclopedia of American Horticulture, therefore, very full accounts are given of the botanical features of all important commercial plants, as the apple, cabbage, rose, etc. At the same time, practical cultivators submit observations upon culture, marketing, and the like, and frequently two opinions are presented upon the same subject from different localities, so that the reader may have before him not only complete botanical information, but very fully the best practice in the most favorable localities for the perfection of any fruit or vegetable or economic plant.

*ILLUSTRATIONS*

The pictorial character of the work is likewise notable. There are over two thousand illustrations, and they are all made expressly for this work, either from accurate photographs or from the specimens. These illustrations have been drawn by competent horticultural artists, in nearly every case under the eye of the Editor, or with the supervision of some one of the sub-editors. No “trade” cuts are used.

In planning the illustrations, artistic effect has been kept in view, and while no drawing is used which does not show its subject with perfect scientific accuracy, the monotonous so-called “botanical” outlines, often made from lifeless herbarium specimens, are notably absent. The intention is to show the life of the plant, not merely its skeleton.

*CONTRIBUTORS, SYSTEM, ETC.*

As above mentioned, the contributors are men eminent as cultivators or as specialists on the various subjects. The important articles are signed, and it is expected that the complete work will include fully 5,000 signed contributions by horticulturists, cultivators and botanists.

The arrangement is alphabetical as to the genera, but systematic in the species. A very simple but complete plan of key-letters is used, and the whole arrangement is toward ease of reference as well as completeness of information. To each large genus there is a separate alphabetic index.

Important commercial subjects are treated usually under the best known name, whether it be the scientific or "common" designation. Thus, the apple is fully discussed as apple, rather than as _Pyrus Malus_, and the carnation comes into view in the third letter of the alphabet, not as _Dianthus Caryophyllus_. Carefully edited cross-references make it easy to find any desired subject, however, in the shortest time.

The plan of presenting the full details of culture of important plants, through the views of acknowledged practical experts upon the various subjects, assures the great value of the book to the man or woman who is obtaining a living from horticultural pursuits.

A special feature of the Cyclopedia of American Horticulture is its wealth of bibliographic reference. The world’s horticultural literature has been thoroughly searched, and most carefully indexed, so that the student will find citations to every available article or illustration upon any subject consulted.

*DETAILS OF PUBLICATION*

The Cyclopedia of American Horticulture is to be completed in four handsome quarto volumes, embracing about two thousand pages, with more than that number of original illustrations. It is carefully printed upon specially made paper of a permanent character. The first volume (A to D, 509 pages, 743 illustrations, 9 plates) is now ready, and the work is expected to be completed during the year 1900.

The work is sold only by subscription, and orders will be accepted for the full set only. Terms and further information may be had of the Publishers,

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LESSONS WITH PLANTS: Suggestions for Seeing and Interpreting Some of the Common Forms of Vegetation. By L. H. BAILEY, Professor of Horticulture in the Cornell University, with delineations from nature by W. S. HOLDSWORTH, of the Agricultural College of Michigan.

*SECOND EDITION—491 PAGES—446 ILLUSTRATIONS—12 MO—CLOTH—$1.10 NET*

There are two ways of looking at nature. The _old way_, which you have found so unsatisfactory, was to classify everything—to consider leaves, roots, and whole plants as formal herbarium specimens, forgetting that each had its own story of growth and development, struggle and success, to tell. Nothing stifles a natural love for plants more effectually than the old way.

The new way is to watch the life of every growing thing, to look upon each plant as a living creature, whose life is a story as fascinating as the story of any favorite hero. "Lessons with Plants" is a book of stories, or rather, a book of plays, for we can see each chapter acted out if we take the trouble to _look_ at the actors.

“I have spent some time in most delightful examination of it, and the longer I look, the better I like it. I find it not only full of interest, but eminently suggestive. I know of no book which begins to do so much to open the eyes of the student—whether pupil or teacher—to the wealth of meaning contained in simple plant forms. Above all else, it seems to be full of suggestions that help one to learn the language of plants, so they may talk to him.”—DARWIN L. BARDWELL, _Superintendent of Schools, Binghamton_.

“It is an admirable book, and cannot fail both to awaken interest in the subject, and to serve as a helpful and reliable guide to young students of plant life. It will, I think, fill an important place in secondary schools, and comes at an opportune time, when helps of this kind are needed and eagerly sought.”—Professor V. M. SPALDING, _University of Michigan_.

FIRST LESSONS WITH PLANTS

An Abridgement of the above. 117 pages—116 illustrations—40 cents net.