:252 MissouKi state horticultural society. 



Leading horticulturists have tested the hardiness and adaptation 

 to the climate, of every species of forest trees. One of their foremost 

 leaders has done most valuable service in the introduction and general 

 distribution of two of the most valuable timber trees, the catalpa and 

 the European larch, which latter is peculiarly suited to a nortiiern cli- 

 mate. The rigor of their climate forced them to ignore one of the 

 most valuable trees of the American Sylva. I refer to the cypress 

 •(^Taxodiiim Distichum)^ which grows spontaneously along the Lower 

 Mississippi as far up as the southeastern portion of the State. 



A coniferous tree of rapid upward growth, a native of swamps and 

 alluvial overflowing lands, must surely be considered a valuable boon 

 for our ytate, in which we have millions of waste acres on which it 

 would rapidly grow if generally planted. The tree is beautiful and 

 very decidedly ornamental, and in consequence is used freely in parks 

 and ornamental grounds. 



Various specimens tower in Lafayette Park above nearly all other 

 surrounding trees. Planted there about twenty-five years ago they 

 have attained a heighth of some sixty feet, and a thickuess of stem of 

 eighteen to twenty inches. If pine wood of the value of cypress tim- 

 ber can be thus readily grown at home, its general culture and a con- 

 sequent boom in Missouri enterprise can be only a question of time. 



This native forest tree is worthy of more serious attention than it 

 has enjoyed until now. Let the intelligent leaders of the arboricul- 

 tural interests of our State resolve to investigate its value honestly, 

 biased by no prejudice against a modest tree growing wild in the 

 southern woods. And when in the fullness of time a welcome tidal 

 wave of progress in forest culture shall gently ripple the placid waters 

 of the Missouri river, dislodging, as we fondly hope, some of the sand- 

 banks of intolerance to modern ideas of improvement successfully in 

 vogue in other States, then shall we see the day when millions of this 

 almost unforgotten tree will tower up singly and in mighty forests 

 from the wide extended lowlands of our State, and when in conse- 

 quence there will be millions in its culture. 



Examples set by the few, and followed by the many, have ever 

 been the stepping stones over which the progress of mankind has 

 passed from one epoch of development to another. To such happy 

 progressive influences we have to attribute in great measure the tri- 

 umphant strides made by American horticulture and arboriculture. 

 The fame of the early successful orchards has called forth more enter- 

 prise in planting than all the books and speeches of theorists could 

 ■ever have set in motion. 



The first successful groves and shady avenues planted on the bleak 

 prairies of the far west have fairly revolutionized the opinion the peo- 



