264 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



with more or less vagueness, by the term labor or work (or growth 

 in the case of non-breathing beings), in distinction from those 

 which, with equal indefiniteness, we are in the habit of character- 

 izing as rest, without inducing in all sensitive beings a weariness, 

 a heaviness, a sense of surfeit and consequent disrelish, approach- 

 ing, and if unrelieved, eventually culminating in those stronger 

 mental affections denominated displeasure, disgust; which affec- 

 tions we all know, if cherished in regard to any voluntary enter- 

 prise whatever, are an effectual bar to all interest therein. Such 

 is the relation established by the All-creator between labor and 

 rest, and illustrated by himself for the good of his creatures, as 

 recorded in the Books of Moses. Alternate succession of labor 

 and rest, of work and play, is therefore a divine ordinance, and, of 

 course, as necessary to successful issues as food is to the sustenance 

 of the body, or mental aliment to the growth of the soul. 



But I will weary your patience with no protracted discussion of 

 what I accept as a principle of sound philosophy, the recognition 

 of which has led me to the only answer I can render to the ques- 

 tion, " How can interest be created^ and sustained in local associa- 

 tions to this State Horticultural Society?" 



My general answer is, connect with and intermingle in the legiti- 

 mate work and exercises of your meetings, other things and doings 

 designed to operate solely as attractions and entertainments. More 

 in detail, permit me to suggest for trial a series of directions and 

 exercises to be varied or modified according to the peculiar circum- 

 stances of the society, something like the following: 



1st. Hold the sessions of the society during the summer season, 

 certainly, all the year, if possible, not in school houses, or town 

 halls, or city council rooms, but on the premises of the members. 



2d. Let the programme of regular exercises embrace some lead- 

 ing topic previously named, to be presented either by written essay, 

 or by extemporaneous address, by some person also previously 

 engaged or appointed to this work. 



3d. Let each formal or leading speech be followed by free collo- 

 quial interchange of views and relation of personal experiences. 



4th. Select subjects for consideration as far as possible with ref- 

 erence to the work about to come practically before the cultivator, 

 in the garden or the field, according to the season of the year, and 

 which for this reason are of special interest at the time. 



