88 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



can bat admit that it was a good one. This display cost the Society 

 less than $100, whilst the one made a few years ago at the same place 

 cost over $800. This was made possible because the St. Louis Expo- 

 sition paid the expenses of the display itself, and in doing so did more 

 than any other association ever did, and performed all it promised to 

 the letter. This display has been the means of drawing the attention 

 of people more and still more to our orchard lands, and it behooves 

 us this year above all others to make an extra effort to make a grand 

 display at the same place that shall eclipse all others. Our State So- 

 ciety has the reputation of doing more of this work than any other in 

 the land, and we do it because we think it the best means of advertis- 

 ing. We shall take charge of the coming display, and hope to have 

 the assistance of 40 counties of the State. 



LETTER FROM MR. GAIENNIE. 



Mr. L. A. Goodman, Secretary, etc. : 



Dear Sir— I received the notice of the semi-annual meeting of the State Horticultural 

 Society, to be held at Willow Springs, June 4, 5 and 6, and nothing would give me greater 

 pleasure than to attend, and I will do all that I possibly can do, If my business engagements 

 permit, to be there anyhow on the 5th or 6th. Should I, however, not be able to leave the 

 city, I beg to express to the Society my thanks and appreciation of the work they did at the 

 St. Louis Exposition of 1894, and hope their exhibit at the Exposition of 1895 will be even 

 moi-e successful than the one in 1894, which. In my opinion, has been of great benefit to the 

 St. Louis Exposition, and, I believe, to your Society. 



with the assurance of my great respect, I am, yours truly, 



Frank Gaiennie, General Manager. 



OUR COUNTY SOCIETIES. 



Though many are flagging, those that live are doing good work 

 and keeping up their interest and their studies. Discouragements will 

 come, of course ; can you tell me any business or occupation that does 

 not have them ? Our merchants have a hard time to keep their debts 

 paid. Hotel keepers never passed through a more severe trial. Pro- 

 fessional men have to do double the work for half the pay. Mechanics 

 have been working on the shortest time ever known. Railroads can- 

 not pay the interest on their bonds. Capitalists have lost 25 per cent 

 in the value of their estates. Land owners see their properties slip 

 away without help, and farmers and fruit-growers never saw such close 

 times before ; and yet they are as well, if not better off, than many 

 thousands of our fellow-men. During this time of general depression, 

 disruption, despair and destruction, we must expect to have some of it. 



Our county societies can help to a better work, a more advanced 

 standard and a determination to succeed if they will but pull together 

 and encourage each other. County societies can do much to advance 

 the interests of their counties. Let us determine to do it. 



