452 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



members of the Slate Horticultural Society, and one which they can 

 make work to advantage, viz : a Missouri Fruit Show, a show that 

 shall command at once the attention and the admiration of all and 

 whose very greatness shall compel its publication far and wide even if 

 it does not bring the people to see it. Such a collection of fruit as we 

 contemplate could be made from the counties of Missouri and the 

 largest ballon the St. Louis Fair Grounds would-be too small to con- 

 tain it. Each one of fifty counties would take pride in collecting, 

 packing and displaying its own productions and in making the most 

 and best of them and a committee of the State Horticultural Society 

 have the superintendence of the whole. 



Should the society contemplate such an effort we doubt not the 

 Fair Association would afford them space, though we have not ap- 

 proached 'them on the subject, and facilitate the enterprise all they 

 properly could. vVill the enterprising secretary, Mr. L. A. Goodman, 

 think of this and submit it to the society at its annual meeting ? 



As a pomologist he was world-renowned for his knowledge, ac- 

 curacy and good judgment, and as such had longer experience than 

 any other man of whom I have any record in this or any other country. 

 His books will ever be precious memorials of good fruits and good 

 men ; of a life whose great object was to make others happy in the en- 

 joyment of the beauties and bounties of creation, and which has been 

 a blessing to our world. For more than a generation he edited the 

 "Fruits and Fruit Trees of America,'' first written by his brother forty 

 years ago. With the progress and expansion of pomology, this work 

 grew under his hand to such an extent that he might well have 

 claimed to be the author; yet, with characteristic modesty, he pre- 

 ferred to lay his laurels upon his brother's grave. This encyclopaedic 

 work, in its many successive editions, is now the generally recognized 

 authority in regard to the multitude of fruits described in it. 



Charles Downing is dead, but his spirit is still with us, and will 

 continue to inspire our souls, and the souls of those who shall succeed 

 us, as long as a love of the beautiful in nature, of rural pleasures, and 

 of domestic comfort shall have a place in the heart of mankind. His 

 star has now set, but it has left a golden record which shall illumine 

 the annals of pomology while the earth shall bring forth the fruits 

 which he so much loved. His works are a rich legacy to the American 

 people, and an enduring monument to his memory.' 



HORTICULTURE AT THE FAIR. 



The Horticulturists of Missouri have reason to be proud of the 

 oflScers of their State Society. They are workers, sure ; hard workers, 



