234 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and preservation, we have from the origin of the humble wild crab 

 the acknowledged king of all fruits. 



1 see the necessity for work and the application of each present 

 moment, says one, but where is the pay and how soon will it come ? 



1 have only to answer Ihat all compensation should not be meas- 

 ured by standard coin. Rewards for good deeds may be so numerous 

 and so related to each particular event, as to be unseen and unknown 

 to us until they arrive. But they are nevertheless just as sure and far 

 better pay than many promissory notes. 



Presuming that I am speaking to lovers of horticulture only, 1 can 

 easily illustrate by saying plant the seeds of a few strawberries or 

 raspberries or sow the seeds of a geranium or rose, give them proper 

 attention and tell me whether you have not received more actual 

 pleasure by the unfoldinu- of each tiny leaf, by the indescribable joy 

 springing from the opening of the first lovely bloom and the crowning 

 pleasure of all in the development of some new character of fruit that 

 your fond anticipations lead you to believe may be of value to the 

 world, than if you had been presented any stipulated daily compensa- 

 tion for your labor. Nor is this all. Riches and fame even in the 

 most sordid sense by which the}' are viewed by all mankind may just 

 as surely lie in horticultural enterprises as in any other. Only in- 

 dustry, only close application (»t each day's opportunities, however, 

 will insure these rewards. 



The work of to-day presents itself in such manifold shape and 

 meets us so obstrusively on every hand, that the industrious find great 

 difficulty in keeping ahead of its imperious demands. Every element, 

 every property in the universe invites, yea, impels to work. 



From the glowing tropics, with its rich treasures of lucious, sun- 

 ripened oranges, bananas, lemons and figs, even to the barriers of the 

 frozen regions, the varying climes in their seasons put forth their 

 peculiar forms of vegetation, silently inviting us by the fragrant odors 

 of their bloom and the healthful and delicate flavor of their fruits to 

 work for their adoption, for their cultivation and development. 



Wherever we go, wherever we look, some new fruit or flower 

 attracts our wondering admiration and excites an eager curiosity to 

 learn its history, to become its possessor and work out its destiny for 

 ourselves. 



In the work of to day we have the highest illustration of the 

 truthful adage that " God helps those who help themselves." For as 

 some higher order of fruit or flower comes to the front in obedience to 

 the cunning manipulations of some patient seeker after improvement, 

 nature kindly takes up the work and sends her messengers, the sum- 



