Educational Influence of Horticulture. 133 



new comer complimentarily suggested that they had the material for the 

 best school in the county, why not have the best teacher. One was procured 

 and retained. The prophetic suggestion was fulfilled. In two years it actu- 

 ally became the banner school of the county, taking the greatest number and 

 highest premiums in the educational department at the county fair, and 

 gaining rich laurels at the State fair. From this school have gone out seven 

 successful teachers. Eight have taken or are taking a college course. The 

 farms are still improving. Wealth is increasing. Literary attainments and 

 social refinement satisfy the aspirations of the young. And farm life, con- 

 ducted on scientific, horticultural principles, is fast taking precedence of 

 trades and professions in that community. 



How many such hamlets scattered throughout the length and breadth of 

 this Mississippi valley are waiting the magnetic presence of some common 

 sense, energetic, unselfish family to stir them into life and give directions to 

 willing hearts and ready hands. There is no place of equal size on the face 

 of the earth better adapted to the highest perfection of horticulture than this 

 magnificent valley, containing, as it does, the most wonderful combination 

 of climate, soil, vegetables, flowers, trees, birds, minerals, animals, and every 

 description of the choicest building materials — just the place where we may 

 strive with a laudable ambition to regain the lost Eden. The successful 

 continuance of this Association will be a strong factor in elevating the stan- 

 dard of horticulture by discussing and printing the best and newest and 

 most profitable things to do, and the best way of doing them. 



Scientific farming has developed a literature all its own. Some of the most 

 ably conducted journals in this country and in England are devoted mainly 

 to the interests of horticulture. These journals are often the entering wedge 

 for high intellectual attainments. As soon as a community of farmers is 

 made to realize the possibilities within their grasp, they naturally want to 

 know the best way of doing things for profit and for beauty. This necessity 

 creates a demand for a magazine club or a circulating library. Finding 

 themselves impeded by a lack of early education, they no longer confidingly 

 trust their children to the care of strangers, who may possibly see more in 

 their money than their children. They know for themselves whether a proper 

 foundation is being laid for their sons and daughters. This, in turn, stimu- 

 lates the young people, and literary societies and debating clubs are formed. 

 They begin to take on refinement of manners ; art is studied ; farm decora- 

 tion, house decoration and personal adornment follow in due time. Church 

 and state, private charities and missionary interest receive attention and sup- 

 port. The whole community is transformed from a number of uninteresting, 

 illiterate farmer families to a community of refined intelligence. There has 

 been no lack of honest toil, but when we work with nature intelligently there 

 is nothing to blunt the sensibilities nor dwarf the soul. Every day there is 

 some new development of the creative power. The opening of the earth by 

 the tiny leaf, the unfolding of a flower, the ripening of the fruit, the growth 

 and perfection of an edible root — every thing is calculated to develop, elevate 



