48 "Wisconsin State Hoeticultueal Society. 



season throughout the state. The display of house and green- 

 house plants was very fine. Among them were many rare plants 

 from private collections, and a large collection of rare and valuable 

 plants from the greenhouse of Mr. J. Salzer. As the reports of the 

 judges were made to the secretary of the local society and were not 

 forwarded for publication, no official announcement of the premi- 

 ums awarded can be made. 



"When the society was called to order, the following paper was 

 read by Mr. J. C. Plumb : 



TEE MISSION OF HOUTICULTUEE. 



Some may doubt the propriety of using this theologic, esthetic 

 word concerning the growing of trees and tomatoes, posies and 

 pickles, but I use the term mission, not to show the details of 

 method, but to discuss horticulture as a reformatory element in 

 society. Hackneyed, but applicable, is the old story of Adam and 

 ^ve in the garden, to tend which was their chief occupation, show- 

 ing that tiais industry was consonant with their primitive purity ; 

 which lost, they were driven from the "garden," to the more bar- 

 ren fields, with their toil and sweat. 



I will not affirm that all horticulturists are persons of high 

 moral standing, or even of cultivated tastes, for alas, in this our 

 loved profession, we find some who are only mercenary and who 

 remind us that it is true to-day as when our first parents rebelled 

 against the " thou shalt not" of the Eternal Father, that mere oc- 

 cupation and surroundings cannot save the race from the degreda- 

 tion of willful transgression of law. " By their fruits ye shall 

 know them," is as applicable here as in other pursuits. To show 

 that horticulture has in it an element of reform, a saving power, 

 we have only to contrast the character and person of our ardent 

 flower-loving friends with those who, in similar walks of life, have 

 no love for flowers, and give no time or thought to horticultural 

 pursuits. 



The horticulturist, by his close contact with the beautiful in 

 nature, should have his thoughts elevated and refined, and by his 



