SUMMER MEETING. 13 



You, gentlemen, in your high calling are invaluable coadjutors of the schools 

 and the universities. You contribute to the love of the beautiful and aid in direct 

 association of that divine sentiment with actual conditions of real life. 



We welcome you then as co-laborers in the great work of individual improve- 

 ment and social amelioration. 



We welcome you to the seat of your own great State institution, the State 

 University; you are welcome to the State Agricultural and Horticultural farms, 

 to the Agricultural Experiment station, and to our several prosperous colleges not 

 of State patronage. We welcome you to our homes. We welcome you to all that 

 is in sight, and for the unseen you are welcome to wonder and inquiry. 



Mr. President, you and your Society are welcome— twice welcome. 



President Evans responded. He contrasted the present meeting 

 with one held a number of years ago in Columbia, when only a half- 

 dozen persons were present. He thought that the Society and Columbia 

 had both grown since that time. He spoke of Missouri's horticultural 

 exhibit at the World's Fair, and said it ranked with the best. 



Miss Jessie Matthews sang delightfully Dudley Buck's " Storm 

 and Sunshioe." Miss Carrie Kerr was accompanist. The thrilling 

 story of " Lasca " was told in a splendid recitation by Miss Estelle 

 Watson. 



Dr. George D. Parinton spoke of " Botany as a Study and Teacher." 

 Botany, he thought, was a great study and wonderful teacher. It 

 develops the power of observation. The child should early begin its 

 study. Some children in kindergartens know more about natural 

 science than many college-graduates. Education without botany is 

 one-sided. Botany should be taught in elementary and primary schools. 

 The study develops a knowledge of nature much to be desired. It 

 contributes to the breadth of knowledge. Botany touches all sciences. 

 Its study develops a spirit of inquiry and a vast field of useful know- 

 ledge. Botany teaches us the value of the esthetic and the value of 

 the practical. It cultivates reverence for nature and nature's God. 



Dr. Purinton's address was a convincing argument for the study of 

 botany and vegetable biology. 



CULTIVATION OF FLOWERS. 



MRS. H. B. LONSDALE. COLUMBIA. 



Scarcely any subject deemed worthy of discussion is mora trite than the 

 ''Cultivation of Flowers," and to presume to offer you any original thoughts there- 

 upon would be assumption indeed; with a flower department in almost every 

 paper, even in that wonderful and widely circulated "Republic," where the con- 

 densed wisdom of all the theorsts and experimentalists is ofl'ered free, there is 

 i ittle need of added words on how to cultivate flowers ; but ofttimes we hear the 



