30 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of and which embodies in an inviting manner the experience of the practical fruit- 

 growers of our State. 



The idea of getting up a " Hand-book of Horticultural Knowledge," or in 

 other words a " Gruide to the Study of Fruit-growing in Missouri," is of more than 

 passing interest, because of the great tide of public attention that is now being 

 turned to the production of fruit in this State. As our towns grow larger the 

 home market demands more fruit. There seem? to be plenty of reliable informa- 

 tion to be drawn from, but it needs classification, illustration, arrangement and 

 simplification. There are scores of practical fruit-growers who will gladly con- 

 tribute of their experience, but it must be collected and embodied. Many there 

 are who will contribute of their scientific knowledge on just such points as our 

 youth will be delighted in, but no one solicits. These facts and this knowledge 

 put in shape that the undisciplined mind can grasp, are what we wish to accom- 

 plish when we suggest that a hand-book of horticultural knowledge be gotten up 

 for the boys and girls of Missouri. 



I may be wrong, but I feel that a systematic presentation of this subject is 

 demanded by the one great question that is now stirring from center to circum- 

 ference the great mass of toiling people, viz. ; 



"What occupation can we follow that will make us an independent and honor- 

 able living ?" 



If we ask for better wages from large corporations, we are turned out upon 

 the streets by the hundreds without anything to do or any place to go. 



Great banks and corporations are failing all over the United States, and thou- 

 sands of innocent people find themselves with nothing but their hands and brains 

 to help them. A very sober thought takes possession of people bereft of home and 

 money. They begin to think and study the situation. The whole body of pro- 

 ducers are beginning to believe that they must pursue their subject exactly as 

 other students pursue theirs. 



But I claim that the horticulturist has no text- book— no guide to his study, 

 as other students have guides to their studies. His occupation is no exception. 

 He can experiment, but that is too expensive. 



How foolish a druggist would be without careful study and previous training, 

 to choose a location, select a stock of goods and try to write prescriptions and carry 

 on a business. 



So a horticulturist will find a knowledge of his subject just as important 

 and necessary. I have made and seen other men make these sad mistakes, and 1 

 know whereof I speak. 



What we want is some timely, careful training along our line of business and 

 we will avoid expensive blunders. Newspaper clippings won't do. They contain 

 many facts that are not helpful on the practical side of this subject ; these I would 

 not care to have embodied in the proposed hand-book. 



The theories and the fanciful, they need not be considered. We want to study 

 helpful facts proven by experience to be helpful. 



We believe that this Society will rally to the dethronement of wrong state- 

 ments and allow yourselves to stand between the people and 10,000 expensive 

 blunders that rising generations will make in the future, without a knowledge to 

 guide them and help to save. 



We cannot aflord to leave this work to the nurserymen, who have trees and 

 vines and flowers to sell ; we cannot leave it to the real estate men, who have lands 

 on the market; but, if we are true men and women, we will take a hand in pre- 

 senting the facts just as they are and just as others will find them when they try 

 to raise fruit in the future on Missouri soil. 



