SOCIETY OF CENTKAL ILLINOIS. 201 



THE RELATION OF HORTICULTUllE AND AGIIICULTURE TO 



OTHER INDUSTRIES. 



BY MRS. R. H, MEAD, GALVA. 



Mr. President, Officers and Members of 



Central Illinois Horticultural Society : 



Ladies and Gentlemen: — It is diificult to define the line between 

 horticulture and improved agriculture. We would rather ascribe the 

 term "trinity" to agriculture, horticulture and floriculture, the three 

 different forms in which God reveals himself to us through the soil — 

 three in one, and one in three; the three fundimental qualities in the 

 Deity — Power, Wisdom and Love. 



Horticulture is the most perfect method of tilling the earth so 

 as to produce the best results, whether the products are objects of 

 utility or of beauty. 



Agriculture is the art of cultivating the ground, and obtaining 

 from it the products necessary for the support of animal life; the 

 art of rearing those plants and animals that are best suited to the 

 wants of man. Since God created the earth agriculture has existed. 

 There is no occupation that precedes it. Before literature existed, 

 before governments were known, agriculture was the first calling of 

 man. 



An all-wise Creator has so arranged everything in the universe 

 that, to a great extent, all is linked together, and all industries^ in a 

 greater or less degree, are necessary, one for the existence of the 

 other. 



In ancient Greece, the art of farming gradually advanced, until, 

 in the days of her glory, in some of her provinces it is said to have 

 attained a high degree of perfection. Many of the implements of 

 husbandry in use among them were not unlike those of modern con- 

 struction in principle, and extensive importations were made from 

 foreign countries, of sheep, swine and poultry, for the purpose of 

 improving their stock. The Greek farmers composted with care and 

 skill. They understood the importance of thorough tillage. They 

 cultivated the apple, pear, cherry, plum, quince, peach, nectarine and 

 other varieties, together with figs, lemons and many fruits suited to 

 the climate. However, agriculture was not a source of pride with 

 the Greeks, as it was afterward with the Romans. One cause of this 

 was the fact that the land was tilled by a menial race, the dominant 

 race cultivating other arts, and caring more to build up their cities 

 than cultivating the soil. On the contrary, a high appreciation of ag- 

 riculture seems to have been a fundamental idea among the Romans. 

 With them a tract of land was allotted to every citizen by the state, 

 and each one was restricted to the quantity granted. It was said that 

 he was not counted a good citizen, but, ra1:her, a dangerous man to 



