WINTER MEETING. 203 



State Horticultural Society. 



Among the papers read at the annual meelmg of this Society at 

 Trenton, Mo., was a letter from Hon. J. M.. Howell, President of the 

 Board of Directors of Public Schools, Dallas, Texas, an eminent and 

 evidently an earnest horticulturist. Knowing that the sentiments ex- 

 pressed in his letter are entertained very generally by those familiar 

 with the Missouri Society's report the world over, we have pleasure in 

 giving it to our readers, even though a little after date. We would 

 like that all men in interest should know who have made the Society, 

 and, through the Society, the State, famous in the estimation of the 

 best citizens of the country. 



THE LETTER. 



L. A. Goodman, Secretary Missouri State Hortlcnltural Society: The program and 

 premium list for thirty -seventh annual meeting of the Missouri State Horticultural Society 

 has been received, for which you will please accept my thanks. Be assured that I am 

 always glad to receive the program and annual report of your great Horticultural So- 

 ciety. Texas horticulturists are proud of the record your Society has made, and the work 

 It is doing in the Interest of general horticulture. The Missouri State Horticultural Society 

 Is often mentioned as a model In the discussions In our Texas State Horticultural Society. 

 Our constitution and by-laws were taken from your report, and but few changes have been 

 made since Its adoption about 10 years ago. 



I have often promised myself the pleasure of attending your annual meetings, but as 

 often been disappointed by having too much work or too little of the "free coinage of silver 

 16tol." Yes, about the time I receive your program there are 16 chances to one that I 

 have not a dollar. So I miss hearing the "free and unlimited coinage" of the horticultural 

 truths and beautiful sentiments expressed in your meetings. 



No doubt the Missouri Horticultural Society by its work Is adding annually millions of 

 dollars to the wealth of your State, In addition to the education It has given your people in 

 self-support. Your Society Is teaching the people how to live, how to draw the pleasures 

 and comforts of life from the great "sub-treasury" of Nature, the soil. 



I have often stated. In horticultural talks over Texas, that the State of Missouri makes 

 annual appropriations to the support of Its Horticultural Society, and that the people of 

 Texas annually pay these appropriations In the Immense importations of your fine fruits 

 and vegetables Your Legislature deserves credit for the Intelligent encouragement thus 

 given the horticulturists of your State. Until within the past two years the people of Texas 

 have consoled(?) themselves with the statement that eight and lO-cent cotton would beat 

 apples at 50 cents per bushel; but they are now realizing that 4-cent cotton don't buy any 

 great chance of apples at $1 per bushel. 



Since 1870 (24 years) I have witnessed wonderful horticultural development In Texas ; 

 and I hope to see the day when Texas will be keeping "step" In the front ranks of horti- 

 culture with your great State, Missouri 



Long may your Society continue to be a potent factor In the present clzilizatlon. 



The beautiful and comfortable homes the Influence of your Society has helped to 

 make, will be a more enduring monument to its memory than marble shafts or bronze 

 statues. 



On behalf of the Texas horticulturists, we give you and the members of your Society 

 a cordial invitation to be present at our next annual meeting of the State Horticultural So- 

 ciety, whlcli will be held in Bowie, Montague county, Texas. 



J. M. Howell, Dallas, Tex. 



