SUMMER MEETING AT BUTLER. 103 



local societies do this work of soliciting an increase of membership in 

 and from their respective localities. 



We further ask, respectfully, that every live member of this society 

 see that his locality has an organized society auxiliary to this. Every 

 county in this State ought to have a local horticultural society for the 

 development of their county's horticultural interest, and as an aid to 

 the State society. 



We are pleased with suggestions in reference to horticultural edu- 

 cation in our public or common schools, and hope to see something in 

 that direction as soon as practicable. 



Before closing our report, we desire to express our approbation and 

 thanks upon the efficient, faithful, untiring labors of the secretary of 

 this society, and devotion to the cause of Missouri horticulture. 



Respectfully submitted. 



D. S. HOLMAN, 

 Z. S. RAGAN, 

 DAN CARPENTER, 



Committee. 



BIRDS IN HORTICULTURE. 



BY CLARKE IRVINE, OF OREGON, HOLT COUNTV, MO. 



Mr. ('larke Irvine in an address before the semi-annual meeting 

 of the Missouri Horticultural Society, thus spoke of birds as related 

 to horticulture : 



While I write the birds are wild with joy. The glorious cardinal 

 red, who has been with us since February, cries : "What cheer? What 

 what, what ? " — his everlasting question in fair weather. The moment 

 the air becomes heavy and damp he changes his note which sounds as 

 though he were attempting to decline the Latin pronoun qiiivis. The 

 wrens are warbling, robins fairly bursting their throats with song. All 

 nature is vocal with the notes of our song birds. One day of the free, 

 glad harmony of these uncaged birds is worth a year of all the per- 



