182 STATE IIORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



FKUIT AS A CHARACTER BUILDER 



In its integral elements. I do not know whether I shall be enabled to make 

 this quite clear to your understandings, but I will do as well as I can. I mean 

 by it to say that by the habitual use of fine and savory fruit in our food, and 

 as our food, our temper and dispositions, which are so much depending for 

 their character on the quality and attributes of the food taken into the sys- 

 tem, and assimilated by it, will, by it, be modiiied, and, as it were, tuned, and 

 our outward character being an index of the inner will be thus determined. 

 "We hold that fruit, in its very elements, is not intended merely as a luxury, 

 that we can do either wiih or without, as the case may be, but rather that it was 

 intended by the "Allwise Maker of our frames," and by our intuitive desires, 

 to serve a felt and important ])urpose in the economy of nature; in short, tiiat 

 it is to be a necessity. It is to be used by us as a daily food, a something to 

 nourish and build uj) the bodily parts, to modify and form the tastes and dis- 

 positions of the growing man, and help in the development of him as an 

 intellectual and moral being, fit to adorn society by his fine personal cliaracter. 

 We hold, further, that the habitual use of fruit will be felt as an influence in 

 the formation of those fine tissues and organs of the body, as the organs of 

 the brain and the nervous system which exert so powerful an influence over 

 the whole life of the man, and is clearly revealed directly in the life. It is 

 surprising to ordinary observers how far a class of food will constitute the 

 "make-np" of the man, and determine his character. In your daily obser- 

 vations among men, you all of you doubtless, may have noticed instances of this 

 sort. We do not wish to say, however, that noble character is entirely dependent 

 upon the nature of the food used by the man, as there are so many subtile 

 influences that go in the general make-up of human character, some of which 

 it is very hard to trace, but we do mean to say, that the question of food is a 

 very important ingredient. There is also another important point in connec- 

 tion with this interesting theme that we cannot well afford to pass unnoticed. 

 It is, that fruit is the best 



ANTIDOTE FOR THB USE OF ALCOHOL. 



This question, so important in the present state of society, is yet in its 

 infancy, but it doubtless has much strong argument in its favor. You all 

 know that as a people we are excessively addicted to the habitual use of alco- 

 holic and stimulating drinks. The trade in these drinks enters more or less 

 into every avenue of life, and they are used by all classes of society. Tlie 

 great arguments used in support of this practice is that they are a necessity to 

 our well being under our peculiar climate and circumstances. This argument 

 holds undisputed sway, and the manufacture and use of stimulants goes on 

 increasing from year to year, until none can tell with any degree of certainty 

 what the result will be. But amongst the deeper and better thinking part of 

 community these premises are seriously questioned, and tliey deny that alcohol 

 is necessary, or that it is requisite to our welfare, and we very much sympa- 

 thize with them in this. We go on further than this and assert not only that 

 it is not necessaiy to our well-being, but that it is the direct cause of our 

 physical and moral degradation, and conseciuently sometliing that must be 

 shunned if we would succeed in life. The use of alcohol is now felt to bo an 

 evil, and so subtile is it in its effects upon us that it lias now by inveiglement 

 got itsulf into every business interest of our country and times. We have 

 found in experience that the difticulties of uprooting and banishment by act 



