22 STATE nOETIOULTURAL SOCIETY. 



is yours to cultivate the virtues, the graces and the finer feelings of 

 our natures ; to contribute not only to our physical wants and necessi- 

 ties, but to lay an embargo upon every fruit that your patient toil has 

 brought to such marvelous perfection, and scatter it broadcast to sat- 

 isfy the tastes of an exacting civilization. 



Ladies and Gentlemen : 



Your Society, from a small beginning, has, under your wise con- 

 duct, grown until it is recognized today as one of the prime factors- 

 which are to be instrumental in having Missouri to, in the near future^ 

 assume the position to which her possibilities entitle hfr, as the Empire 

 State of the American Union. The world has heard of her iron, lead,, 

 zinc, coal, stone, timber, and her wonderful agricultural possibilities ; 

 but it is left to you, gentlemen, to show to the world that Missouri is 

 the greatest fruit State on the continent, California by no means ex- 

 cepted. Then, ladies and gentlemen, whether you are here from our 

 sister State of Kansas, whether you come to us with the rich soil of 

 the "Platte purchase" clinging to your sandals, whether your garments 

 carry the aroma of the smoke of the wonderful young city at the 

 mouth of the Kaw, or whether you hail from the classic shades of the 

 Ozarks, we welcome you. If, when your labors shall have ended here,, 

 and you return to your homes and to your people, you can do so, feel- 

 ing that we have in any way made your stay with us pleasant, we will 

 be glad ; and if, in the prosecution of your work in the future, you caft 

 look back to your meeting here with kindly remembrances, that know- 

 ledge, could we feel its impulse, would make us feel that we had been, 

 mutually benefited and blessed by this short acquaintanceship. 



Flowers in the Home. 



Mrs. Edgar Dean, Harrisonville. 



Am I interested in floriculture and lawn decoration ? Why, of 

 couse T am, and I can tell you the most successful way to fail in this 

 branch of horticulture, for out of a woman's own experience can she 

 speak the truth. 



First, be sure you have a yard full of chickens, of all ages and 

 sizes, and all of the most surprising energy and zeal in upturning the 

 soil around your most treasured plants. When yon are sure of thia 

 first element of failure, make up your mind that around a sunny bay- 

 window is just the place for a rose border ; that you have a most 

 charmingly shady nook for ferns, a half shaded one for pansies, and 

 down in front is a nice place for a bed of foliage plants. 



