WINTER MEETING. 119 



SECRETARY'S REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS. 



December 4, 1894 — 7:30 p. m. 



The first session of the Missouri State Horticultural Society was 

 opened with music by the Trenton male quartette. 

 Prayer was offered by Rev. J. W. Crawford. 

 Solo by Miss Bettie Stevens. 



address of welcome by HON. T. A. MURPHY. 



It afifords me pleasure to welcome you to our city. I may name 

 some of the things we have in our city to show you. We have a 

 library, the finest in the West, one of the best public schools in Mis- 

 souri, and we have a fine country around. Twenty years ago Trenton 

 had 150 people, and was one of the worst-looking places to be seen 

 anywhere. We have increased to 7000. The great Rock Island route 

 has built us up rapidly. We are very proud of our county. It is true 

 the State of Missouri is yet in its infancy, though the fifth in the Union 

 in wealth and population. 



The influence of such a society as this is just what we need to 

 bring our State to the front. The display of fruit in the other room 

 shows that. Our soil and climate are suited to the production of all 

 kinds of fruits, but many of us don't know how to cultivate them. I 

 did not come here to make a speech, but I want to say to delegates, 

 we give you a hearty welcome. I hope you will be profited, and I 

 believe our people will be benefited. Again, I give you a hearty 

 welcome. 



RESPONSE BY PRESIDENT EVANS. 



I thank you for this most hearty welcome. As one has well said, 

 this is a new country, and as yet undeveloped. A man who traveled 

 over California remarked that everywhere he went he was told that he 

 was in the fruit belt. "Redding was the buckle, and the buckle was 

 gold." I am looking for the buckle. It is a fact that only a very small 

 per cent of the people of Missouri know there is such a society as 

 this ; yet their work has beeo felt in every county in the State. There 

 are 114 counties in the State, and most of them have local societies. 

 We hope to live long enough to go over the whole State. I, like your 



