32 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



before this world is right the overflowing populations of our cities 

 will have to take to the fields. Instead of ten merchants in rivalry 

 as to who shall sell that one apple, we want at least eight of them 

 to go out and raise apples. When the shepherd's crook was upon 

 that famous night set against the wall of the Bethlehem kahn, it 

 was a prophesy of the time when the thresher's flail, and farmer's 

 plow, and woodman's axe, and ox's yoke, and sheaf-binder's rake shall 

 surrender to the Grod who made the country, as man made the town." 

 While I do not think with Dr. Talmage that eight out of every 

 ten of our merchants should come out and raise apples, yet we surely 

 do not want half of our farmer boys to go to the city and compete 

 with those merchants in selling what apples we grow. It is true 

 that the horticulturist does not often acquire great riches, but he 

 enjoys many priceless blessings which his wealthy brother of the 

 city never knows. 



" Honest and fearless, free and glad. 

 A very prince is he! 

 At peace with God, in love with truth, 

 With man in harmony." 



It has been said that contentment is the sweetest and also the 

 rarest drop in the cup of life, but I believe that if it is anywhere to 

 be found it is in the quiet retreat of a horticultural home. Why 

 then should we envy our brethren of the city the wealth and splen- 

 dor which is theirs? 



We care not for honor, we care not for wealth, 

 We ask but a living, contentment and health. 



It is not only Washington who has declared horticulture the 

 the noblest of all occupations, the experience of man since the 

 beginning of time, has proven, and nature declares it, to be so. He 

 who labors in the fields and tills the soil lives in direct communica- 

 tion with nature, and to him she gives her choicest gifts. Here 

 alone is true originality, and all the countless ministers of God teach 

 their endless lessons of peace, purity and love. 



He who turns his back upon the country and betakes to the city, 

 forsakes the holy temple of nature, to become a worshiper of the 

 machinations of man. God made the country, man the town, which 

 will you choose? 



Are you ambitious? Your being a farmer will not prevent you 

 from becoming famous if you have in you the right material. Every 

 man is judged for just about what he is worth here on earth, and if 

 you are a genius the world will find it out in time enough. It were 

 needless to recount the names of those who have gone from the fields 

 to fame and fortune. SuflSce it to say that the brightest names 



