HORTICULTURE : 



ITS BENEFITS AND WHAT IT TEACHES 



BY "WILLIAM VAN BUREN. 



A PAPER READ BEFORE THE INGHAM COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, AT 



LANSING, DECEMBER 11, ]880. 



Perhaps it was almost unkindness toward me on the part of the committee 

 on programme to wait until the sweet festival of All Saints, which the church 

 keeps on the 1st day of November in each year, had passed, before inviting me 

 to read a paper, for it does appear that it would have been less difficult to have 

 chosen a subject for an address to be read before a horticultural society ere the 

 period had arrived when 



"Never resting time leads summer on to hideous winter; 

 Sap-checked with frost, and leaves quite gone." 



However, having been invited, and having consented to write something, I 

 am in duty bound to make an effort. If I succeed in saying anything of inter- 

 est, or that will be of benefit to my hearers, I will be fully repaid for the 

 undertaking. If 1 fail in these things, I hope you will attribute that failure 

 rather to the lack of knowledge than to any want of interest on my part in the 

 society and its future usefulness. 



To begin, then, I wish to say that I joined the Ingham county horticultural 

 society from somewhat selfish motives, and not perhaps with a knowledge that 

 I could be of any great benefit to the members of the association, but rather 

 hoping that I would obtain knowledge beneficial to myself. In ordinary cases 

 self-interested promptings are not the first principles which lead one to good 

 deeds. Yet, believing as I do that it is the duty of every man and every woman, 

 and every boy and girl who has reached the years of discretion, to unite him- 

 self or herself with an organization having for its object the bettering of the 

 social condition of mankind, and firmly believing that an association such as 

 ours will lead directly in that path, I may be pardoned for my selfishness in 

 joining. I hope, now that you have received me, that I may in some way 

 repay you for your kindness, and at various times contribute my mite in for- 

 warding the noble objects of our excellent society. 



