76 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



God did not require him to till the soil planted to grain for 'bread: 

 nor to herd the flock that there might be meat^ but directed him to 

 dress the garden and eat of the fruits thereof. How happy must have 

 been the first man — the first horticulturist — in his purity and inter- 

 course with his divine companion. 



The tempter left the place where " chaos sat enthroned with sable- 

 vested night," and winged his way "through their spacious empire up 

 to light," entered our world, " hanging by a golden chain " in eternal 

 space. Here with lying lips and flattering tongue beguiled them, and 

 they, stretching forth their hands, " ate the fruit of that forbidden tree 

 whose mortal taste brought death into the world and all our woe," 

 with loss of Eden, and ever since, man has had to eat bread by the 

 sweat of his face. 



What a change in the natural condition of the world, when the 

 ground brought forth " thorns and thistles and noxious weeds." What 

 a change in man's condition — from dressing the garden and eating the 

 fruit thereof, to tilling the soil amid thorns and thistles and eating 

 hiead by the sweat of his face. From horticultural recreation to agri- 

 cultural toil and sweat — the latter a necessity, the former still the joy 

 of life. 



What sweet thoughts arise, how calm the reflections, how the 

 heart wells up in thanksgiving and praise, as we walk in the garden at 

 evening, delighted with the sweet perfume of a thousand flowers — 

 ■*' alphabet of angels." How grateful when the dew-washed strawberry 

 and sparkling raspberry tempt and satisfy with the riches of their 

 flavor. The heart swells wUh thanksgiving as the vine yields its rich 

 aromatic fruit to our desires, and as the " Red-cheeked Melocoton " 

 and " Sturap-theWorld " drop their ambrosial riches to our eager 

 grasp. As we wend our way into the larger domain of the orchard 

 where the aromatic Birtlett, the blushing Flemish and delicious Seckel 

 greet us, our praises raise to God on high. From early Harvest to 

 White Winter Pearmain, every varying flavor adequate to the wants 

 of the most refined epicurean, call our thoughts upward to the banefi- 

 ■cent Creator, who has so beautified and adorned the world, filling it 

 with every variety of fruit and flower, pleasant to the eye, refreshing 

 to the olfactories, and agreeable to the taste. 



From the snowdrop, buttercup, and crocus, which rear their sweet 

 and delicate heads, it may through the snowy apron winter has let fall 

 on the lap of early spring, through every tint and odor of annuals to 

 the majestic queen of perennials, whose ottar is both the joy and sol- 

 ace of feminine loveliness, we are reminded of Him whose love and 

 •compassion are sweeter and more delightsome than the balm of a mil- 



