102 Misslssipjji Vallen Horliculttn-al Societi/, 



St. Louis, February 17, I880. 

 ^fl/ Diar Sir : 



You know how cordially I desire, and lirinly loatemplated, going witli you to 

 New Orleans. But sickness in my family, and the bad condition of the railroads, 

 made my wife and myself, though very reluctantly, give up the long-anticipated 

 trip. Our Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society is struggling under adverse 

 circumstances; the floods will of necessity hinder many members from coming, 

 and I had almost hoped that I might get to-day yet a letter from you that the 

 meeting had been postponed ! As this has not come, I can only wish you and the 

 meeting best success, and you all an enjoyable trip and safe return. Again assur- 

 ing you of my sincere regrets, I am Truly yours, 



IsiDOl! BrsH. 



I will close the reading of this list of eloquent letters with a 

 note from the distinguished gentleman who presides over the De- 

 partment of Agriculture at Washington : 



Washington, D. C, December 17, 1882. 

 My Dear Sir: 



My engagements are such in the month of February, in tiie States of Massachu- 

 setts and Ohio, that it will be impossible for me to attend the meeting of the Mis- 

 sissippi Valley Horticultural Society, to be held at New Orleans. It would give 

 me great pleasure to accept your invitation and to li.sten to discussions upon the 

 horticultural wealth of one of the most important agricultural districts of this or 

 any other country. Very respectfully, 



Geo. B. L( iking, 



Cnwmimnner. 



After the reading of the letters, Dr. Samuel Hape, of Georgia,, 

 expressing a regret at his State being outside of the geographical 

 limits of the Society, moved that a committee be appointed to con- 

 sider the propriety of so amending the name of the Society that it 

 might become national in its extent. 



Jfr. T. T. Lyon, of Michigan, seconded the motion, and said that 

 he hoped that the Society might become national in name as well 

 as in fact. 



Mr. Noiolln, of Arkansas, said that he felt proud that this Society,, 

 with which he had been so long connected, and which had been so 

 small in the beginning, had so enlarged as to be able to take into 

 consideration the admission of other parts of the Union; that, while 

 he was willing for the Society to stretch out its arms so as to take in 

 the whole country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, at the same time 

 he wished to see the identity of the Society preserved. 



