78 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the influence of genius and money, time and space are virtually anni- 

 hilated and territories converted into States and deserts, " to blossom 

 as the rose," and towns and cities spring up with a few changes of the 

 moon. 



Agriculture and horticulture, the true foundation of all wealth 

 move silently hand in hand in feeding and clothing the million. 

 Horticulture, the flower of agriculture, has become the forerunner of 

 the adornment of both country and city homes. A too common an 

 error is that of ignoring professional talent in architecture and land- 

 scape gardening, since every one considers himself an adept in arrang- 

 ing his own residence without having made a study of either. Hence 

 many irreparable blunders which amount to both waste of time and 

 money. 



Even those who have had some practical experience in other local- 

 ities, will find it to be important to consult the tree grower or landscape 

 gardener who has had the means of testing and observing what trees 

 succeed best in certain localities, and may know what and where to 

 plant. 



If in architecture, the style, proper material, cost, etc. The orna- 

 mental embellishment of our homes not only enhances their value to 

 the owner of the property, but of his country and State and add to the 

 happiness of the family and neighborhood. 



If this State society can in any way be instrumental in awakening 

 an interest upon this subject, in connection with fruit culture, it will 

 become a public benefactor, and must be an incentive to persevere in 

 extending and widening its influence. H. W. Sargent, Esq., says, 

 " the love of country is inseperably connected with the love of lioineP 

 Whatever leads a man to assemble the comforts and elegancies of life 

 around his habitation, tends to increase local attachments and renders 

 domestic life more delightful, thus not only augmenting his own en- 

 joyment, but strengthening his patriotism, and making him a better citi- 

 zen. And there is no employment or recreation which affords the mind 

 greater or more permanent satisfaction than that of cultivating the 

 earth or adorning our own property, " God Almighty, and indeed it is 

 the purest of human pleasures," says Lord Bacon. And as the first 

 man was shut out from Va^ garden^ in the cultivation of which no alloy 

 was mixed with his happiness, the desire to return to it seems to be 

 implanted by nature, more or less strongly in every heart In land- 

 scape gardening the country gentleman of leisure finds a resource of 

 the most agreeable nature, while there is no more rational pleasure 

 than that derived from its practice by him, who "plucks life's roses in 

 his quiet fields." The humble alike find pleasure in the ornamenta- 



