42 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



An inherent daty binds us to "replenisli the earth." The avaricious miy be 

 satisfied with planting that which bring? in tha largest returns in gold; the glut- 

 ton, beast-like, may be content to plant what produces the most food, but more is 

 expected of the intelligant horticulturist. In all the realms of nature, from the 

 tiniest plant to the giant oak; from the worm beneath our feet to the elephant ; 

 the birds, fishes, everything teaches us that beauty as well as utility and adapta- 

 bility was in the design of the All-wise Creator; and we too should not be satisfied 

 with convenience and comfort, but strive to baautify our country homes. 



If there is so much importance connected with the temporal, how much 

 greater it must be in the spiritual planting ; temporal mistakes may often be cor- 

 rected, the worthless tree or plant may be replaced by a good one, and if we are so 

 ready and free to contribute the knowledge acquired by great pains and expense to 

 assist each other to avoid mistakes in our temporal planting, can we consistently 

 be indifierent to the sad mistakes we see made in the spiritual planting? The in- 

 fluences we put in motion by the interest we manifest, or the side we take on 

 every important question, can never be stopped. " Whatsoever a man soweth, that 

 shall he also reap." Now, as requested, I have tried to tell you what will pay best 

 to plant of temporal things, and I must try to stick to my text: "What shall we 

 plant, and why plant it ?" What have we been planting ? What are we now plant- 

 ing? and what are we going to plant of the spiritual as well as the temporal? for 

 plant we must. The seeds of unconscious influence are constantly dropping, and 

 our reaping must surely correspond with our planting. Soils diff'er, seasons 

 change, new kinds coming out, old reliable kinds degenerating, the tastes and de- 

 mands of the markets vary ; therefore, our lists of what to plant of temporal things 

 must keep changing ; but not so the list for our spiritual planting : it never changes. 

 If we are so anxious to succeed in the spiritual, as in the temporal, we will find 

 the path to success fully as plain in the spiritual as in the temporal Indolence and 

 indiflTerence mean failure in both; therefore, let us fall into line and act our part 



wisely and well. 



J.N. Menifee, Oregon, Mo. 



REPORT ON NEW FRUITS. 



As a member of the Committee on New Fruits, I beg leave to report as fol- 

 lows as to the newer fruits which I had long enough to fruit them : 



Of strawberries I find the Michel's Early a very fine early berry, a berry that 

 paid me well last season. The present season, hov/ever, it went back on me alto- 

 gether ; we got no berries to speak of. I find the plants quite subject to leaf-blight, 

 but as they are such fast growers, little harm is done by the disease mentioned. Bu- 

 bach No. 5 and Haverland I find among the best of the newer sorts ; also Wartield 

 No. 2, Jessie and a number of others I have discarded as unprofitable. Gandy is 

 a very fine late variety. I have no new raspberries nor blackberries to report upon, 

 but may by another year. 



Of the newer cherries I find Christbauer ahead of any cherry that I have seen 

 yet in this country. It ripened this year six days before Early Richmond. It and 

 Heine Hortense, with Large Montmorency for an acid sort, fill the bill for me. I am 

 watching Esel very closely, as it was introduced through the same channel as 

 Christbauer; it also may prove valuable. 



Of the newer pears, I have been compelled to discard LeConte and Kiefl'er. 

 The latter I have found to be too tender in the bud. For two seasons the first buds 

 were killed here, when peaches have come through all right. My conclusion was 

 that the peach was uncertain enough here, and could not see that there was any 

 use to waste time with what was still more so. Garber is very promising. 



