Source, Rutland Daily Herald-Sat. May 24, 1947. Hard Working Winning Ex-GI Success as Horticulturist. Myles Pratico, Rutland Vet, Running Business Here and Also May Receive Diploma From School. by Helen McLaughlin. A story of unflinching perseverance to accomplish his dream of becoming a first class horticulturist and floriculturist is that of Myles Pratico, 24, of 164 Spruce street, former GI and prisoner of war of the Germans, whose path has been blocked with many obstacles. When his class at the New York State Agricultural and Technical institute at Morrisville graduates tomorrow, the young veteran won't be on hand.Called home by the fatal illness of his father, Natale Pratico, just five weeks before he would have finished his course, Myles still anticipates receiving his diploma. He he also plans to study further, specializing in floral design. Encouraged by a member of his faculty, young Pratico, who daily carries on the operation of the family greenhouse next to is home, has been submitting work sheets prepared at night. The papers are promptly mailed to the institute, and Myles expects to learn the results early next week. With the greenhouse season's most difficult tasks successfully completed, Myles will leave the business in care of his mother, Catherine, who has six other children, during the summer while he take a three month course at the Simmons School of Floral Design. On week- ends home he will care for the summer plants. After that he plans to return to Rutland to operate the enterprise of which he dreamed when he was laboring long hours in the woods and on the farms of Germany during the 16 months he was a prisoner of war. Pfc. Pratico, then 20, was captured February 15, 1944, with a squad of six Americans soldiers in a machine gun squad fighting at an advance outpost at Anzio. During his interment he tried without success to obtain books on flowers and horticulture. Nevertheless, he cherished the hope of taking up the study when the war was over. He was librated by the Russians, near Stettin, in the Baltic region of Germany, in July 1945. Home on recuperation leave in early autumn, Myles Pratico, then a corporal, talked over his ambitions with his former Rutland High school principal, Frank W. Mayo. The latter arranged for young Pratico's admission into Massachusetts State college provided he was free to enter during the week of October 8. Otherwise, he would be obliged to wait a year. Pratico was honorably discharged from the Army service on November 15, 1945, too late to carry out his plans. With the assistance of Principal Mayo he succeeded in enrolling for a two-year course at the New York State Agricultural and Technical institute. The cultivation of plants and flowers just seems to come naturally to the Pratico family. The business began as a family hobby. Myles' parents, Natale and Catherine Pratico, first established their "greenhouse" in what had been an old chicken coop in the rear of their little home on Spruce street. The plants-celery, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, and the like--were for the their own table. So well did the plants thrive that neighbors and relatives, who admired the Pratico's knack of cultivating green things were presented with the produce. Then neighbors and friends began bringing seeds to Natale and Catherine to plant and grow for them.This was done with pleasure and without desire for compensation because the family was content with Natale's income from his trade as a moulder at the Howe Scale company. During the depression years work was very slack for Natale, and the chicken coop greenhouse burned down. The enterprising Praticos then took the top off a shed which which housed rabbits, and replaced it with a glass covering. To help support the family, Natale and Catherine started to sell their vegetable plants. Gradually small sections were added to the unique greenhouse, and Natale with a love for the work of growing green things personally undertook the strenuous task of clearing and draining a swamp and frog pond in the rear of his garden. He dug ditches; removed grass, brush and fungus growth, plowed the soil, added fertilizer and continued working until the area was thriving with neat rows of plants and flowers. While vegetables were the pride of Natale, Catherine when not busy with her family and housework and acting as helper to her husband, pursued her own hobby of growing colorful perennials. These she gave away to friends. Eventually she began to sell her flowers plants too. It was their happy anticipation of going into the greenhouse enterprise in a big way when Myles with newly acquired scientific knowledge added to practical experience had completed his course at the New York state institute. With this in mind, the Praticos undertook the task of constructing a modern greenhouse, 25 by 100 feet, on their home property. Myles, on vacations and week-ends, supervised the project, and when it was finished this spring, the family was proud of the results. They felt that it wasn't the largest in the vicinity, but one of the best constructed and ranked with the very best. Then a blow fell in March, when Natale, who two years ago was obliged to give up his regular work as a molder on medical advice, became ill. It was at the height of the "work season" in the greenhouse business and Myles was called home from school. Natale Pratico died a few days later on March 23 during an operation. Despite the fact that graduation was near, Myles was unable to leave the heavy and intricate work of the greenhouse to his grief stricken mother. Care and constant attention were required for the sowing of seedlings, the preparation of the soil, the maintenance of proper temperatures, the watering and the germination. Prof. George Spader of the New York State Agricultural and Technical institute offered hope and encouragement and advised Myles to continue his studies at home. And so,the dreams of an ex-GI, while he was a prisoner of war, may soon come true. If hard work and the faith of a gallant mother will help, it seems bound to happen. ps. there is also a photo of Myles & Catherine Pratico at work in the greenhouse. Transcribed by, Joan H. Bixby