138 3Iississippi Valley HoHieultural Society. 



land. There is one plant which should be our chief studj' and object of cul- 

 ture, and that is the brain of every man or woman who owns a foot of soil. 



The pubUcation of reports could be placed with some substantial firm, like 

 •Orange Judd & Co., Gardener's Monthly, Rural New Yorker, or better, some 

 house nearer home with a national reputation. 



In this wa)', when any of our members should originate a truly valuable 

 variety, it would at once be set before the Avorld in its true light, and the pro- 

 ducer, who often is too poor to alone bring before the public the results of 

 his labors, be able to secure a just compensation for his patient toil to im- 

 prove for the good of all. 



Likewise, the Society could do good service in guarding the public against 

 horticultural frauds, by establishing experimental stations, where all adver- 

 tised novelties should be thoroughly tested before receiving its approval or 

 condemnation. To aid in this, a committee of its ablest veterans might be 

 appointed to investigate these matters and make an annual report. 



Let every department of its work be then organized on the progressive idea, 

 and then, instead of merely marking time, we shall make a grand, triumph- 

 ant march, all over the fertile plains, the sunny slopes, the nestling vales, the 

 lowlands and highlands, and even the barren, gullied hills and rugged crags 

 and cliffs, we may clothe in ruddy fruits, protecting vines, grand trees and 

 fringing flowers. 



In fifty years more of peaceful growth this land will swarm with people of 

 every clime and nation, and the struggle for the necessities and comforts of 

 life will wax hot. We hope it may not come down to a mere question of 

 "survival of the fittest" upon the brutal basis of physical endurance, but, as 

 we come nearer together, we may have learned how to grow two blades, with 

 double the nutriment in each, where but one grew before; and, instead of 

 being proud to boast that we are " rnonarchs of all we survey," be glad to 

 have near neighbors with whom we can mutually enjoy the new flavors, per- 

 fumes, tints and forms we have coaxed from the earth. 



It well behooves us to-day to anticipate by finding out and making known 

 the capabilities of every variety of soil and situation, every development of 

 vegetable, vine, tree, shrub and flower, that the future great throng may 

 feed, enjoy and commime in peace and love. 



To-day we see our forests fading before the ruthless ax. Fruit and provis- 

 ions of every class go higher and higher in price. Our virgin soils are 

 swiftly fleeing through Eads' jetties before our very eyes into the depths of 

 the ocean, leaving our once fertile fields jiale and sickly, and India's inevitable 

 lot staring us boldly in the face but a few years hence, when a severe drought 

 may sweep away by starvation hundreds of thousands. 



Then he, who has learned best how to save his rod of ground and reach 

 into it deepest, will be fittest, and he will survive. 



Nature, here, has been lavishly generous in soil, climate and variety of 

 products, but even these may be exhausted by a great, wasteful, unj^rogres- 

 sive population, as may shortly occupy this country, unless societies, as this, 

 lead on in the right direction. 



