260 Jlissis.sippi Valley Horticultural Society, 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



Desiring to preserve iu permanent form the early history of the 

 Mississippi Valley Horticnltnral Society, the Secretary has secured, 

 from the pen of ex-Secretary Prof Tracv, the following sketch ; 

 also, the awards of premiums made at the exhibition in St. Loui& 

 September, 1880. 



This sketch, with Major Nowlin's paper on the '' Origin and Im- 

 portance of the Society," preserves its records down to the present 

 time, when it becomes one of the permanent institutions of the 

 country, with a future in prospect that will guarantee the preserva- 

 tion of its subsequent history. Secretary. 



HISTOEICAL. 



BY PROF. S. JI. TRACY, OF MISSOURI. 



At a meeting of the Missouri State Horticultural Society, held in St. Louis^ 

 January, 1880, delegates from the Arkansas and Illinois State Societies were 

 present, and the subject of forming a "Mississippi Valley Horticultural So- 

 ciety" was introduced by Mr. Nowlin, one of the Arkansas delegates. After 

 considerable discussion, the matter was referred to a committee of nine, 

 three from each of the State societies represented at the meeting, as follows; 

 S. H. Nowlin, C. C. Smith and J. B. Hoag, of Arkansas; Parker Earle, 0. B. 

 Gdusha and J. E. Starr, of Illinois; Norman J. Colnian, J. C. Evans and S. M. 

 Tracy, of Missouri. After a thorough canvass of the subject, and correspond- 

 ence with the presidents and secretaries of the various State societies in the 

 Mississippi Valley, it was thought best to take steps for the formation of a 

 society which should be more especially suited to the wants of Western Hor- 

 ticulturists than is any society now in existence. The presidents and secre- 

 taries of the State societies interested were made members of the committee,. 

 and the following call was issued : 



- Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society. 



To the Horticulturists of the Mississippi Valley : 



In pursuance of action taken at the late meeting of the Missouri Horticul- 

 tural Society, which embraced delegates from several other State societies, a 



