29 2 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



among his flowers and a host of others whose combined labors have 

 glorified and transformed all the bleak northwest. 



Nature gives us the single flowers and teaches how to improve 

 them. How marvelous the transformation in the Peony, the Iris, the 

 Carnation, the Phlox and the Rose. Standing on the threshold of the 

 future she exalts a great hope before us . 



It does not seem a great while ago when I used to ride over the 

 vast prairies of Minnesota, and later those ^of Nebraska and in wule 

 range of vision there was not a tree or house to be seen. Growing 

 fruit was considered an impossibility. Now there are comfortable 

 homes, well sheltered with groves and wind breaks and here and there 

 orchards burdened with luscious fruits. The nurserymen have added 

 millions to the wealth of the state besides beauty and cash — you have 

 compensation for your long winters. A California spring bears no 

 comparison to one in Minnesota, when all nature puts off her cold 

 white robes for the royal garments of spring time — God's welcome 

 to earths new resurection. What an honor to introduce the world to 

 the beauty of the Lord and to give the people a view of His real nature 

 and character and His willingness to aid us. It is an honor and a Joy to 

 swing the gates wide open and introduce to the world the hitherto 

 unknown God. 



We now come to the great issues of today on which our work Has 

 a powerful influence. Take the cause of temperance. Fruits of their 

 unfermented juices are fast taking the place of intoxicants. In our 

 town of York, Neb., there are no saloons. You do not see wagons 

 loaded with tlie extracts of rotted grain but you do see trainloads of 

 fruit poured into a town of 7,000 people and you see one of the 

 healthiest cities in the land. There is a tonic in fruit which is not 

 always recognized. Tou are a busy ' man, often overwhelmed with 

 work. You get tired and are often worried with labor and business. 

 Just sit down, drop all care and relax completely. Then eat a couple 

 of the best, juicest apples you can find and how you are refreshed 

 and return to your work with renewed vigor. I often try this. Fruit 

 is the best medicine one can take. It is the cheapest and used judi- 

 ciously it would send half the doctors to raising apples and berries. 



A mighty battle is on us and as Horticulturists we must throw our 

 forces into the front ranks. 



A writer has aptly said that in Europe there are two Germanies. 

 One peaceful and progressive. Scholars, leaders of thought, invent- 

 ors, Scientists, Poets, philosophers — men who seem to exalt the race, 

 men whose grand lives have been a benediction to the world. The other 

 brancli are the War Lords, who concentrate all their skill and intolli- 

 gence into the high art of destruction. See their work. Look at poor 

 Belgium. The fairest portion of our fair earth now turned into a 

 wilderness and a desolation. Homes destroyed, millions of peaceful 

 industrious people homeless and starving and then they are assessed 

 millions for murder and devastation. Here you see the condensation 



