76 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



national government enlarged means for the furtherance of 

 the work of these stations, is, to one who reads the signs of 

 the times, indicative of a desire to develop the science of 

 agriculture, on the part of those who recognize its impor- 

 tance to the country. 



Agriculture and horticulture are so closely related to 

 botany that it is scarcely necessary to mention the depend- 

 ence of the successful farmer, gardener, fruit-grower or 

 florist, upon an intelligent understanding of, and conformity 

 to, the laws of vegetable physiology in the operations of 

 his every-day life. The nurseryman and florist are, per- 

 force, botanists. To them a general knowledge of system- 

 atic botany, and that careful development of the powers of 

 observation which a close study of the characters of plants 

 gives, go far to assure success, when combined v/ith 

 shrewd business tact and a practical familiarity with the 

 manual processes of their vocation. 



While the farmer or gardener may require less of this 

 knowledge, he should be well versed in forestry, and famil- 

 iar with the weeds of the farm and roadside, and the most 

 successful means of contending with them and repressing 

 their advances. The reckless manner in which the most 

 troublesome weeds are scattered from farm to farm, and 

 from State to State, with clover and grass seed, necessi- 

 tates a knowledge of their seeds, such as can be obtained 

 only by careful study. If planning a course of botanical 

 instruction for young men who intend to make the farm 

 their home, I should give the study of weeds and of our 

 native grasses and forest trees a prominent place in it. 



Here, in the Mississippi Valley, the horticulturist con- 

 tends with climatic conditions unknown in the East, or in the 

 coast countries of Europe, whence we have received many 

 of the valued varieties which we are trying — often in 

 vain — to cultivate, as well as the methods of treatment by 

 which we struggle for success. The coming fruit-grower 

 must rely upon the teachings of botanical geography in the 

 selection of varieties, and upon a most exact understanding 



