WINTER MEETING. 175 



manufacturing interests ; in its ihree millions of people and their love of law, of 



the social and domestic relations, of religioa, literature, tbe arts and sciences, and 



all the elegancies of refined life ; in its three hundred thousand farms and farmers, 



producing every crop known to the temperate climate in field, in garden and the 



orchard ; its magnificent forests of finest timber ; rail and river navigation of the 



finest, and last but not least, its hundreds of commercial orchards and thousands of 



acres of apples, pears, peaches, plums, grapes and other small fruits ; great 1 say 



in them all, but especially and particularly in these, and even then the half has 



not been told ; and I ask you, what of the future ? Are we building wisely and 



well? 



Show to the world through the publication of that which is said and done at 



your meeting, that the Missouri State Horticultural Society has an intelligent 



appreciation of its work and duty, and that so far as in it lies, the aff"airs of the State 



are in good hands and becoming better as the days pass. 1 shall be glad to have 



full reports of the meeting and the papers for publication, and to get them into 



the paper and before tbe world at the earliest possible moment. The Rural World 



assures you of hearty support, as does also, 



Yours very truly, 



Geo. Longman, Editor. 



SECRETARY'S REPORT. 

 BY L. A. GOODMAN. 



A report from your Secretary every six months seems to be one 

 of the necessities of our meeting, for in no other way can I get your 

 ear on many important matters which we should continually keep 

 before us and discuss in all their bearings, and thus outline a plan of 

 work for the future. 



For 10 or 12 years have I been giving my best endeavors to build 

 up the Horticultural Society and the fruit interests of the State. We 

 have been trying to get the experience of the fruit men on practical 

 questions, and have them discussed, so that they would do most good. 

 These items of experience and information have been copied into many 

 of our fruit journals, and also county papers, and thus scattered all 

 over the State ; and I am sure that any one traveling through the 

 country can plainly see the influence of our Society and its best 

 workers, in the better preparation of soil for orchards, the more judi- 

 cious selection of varieties for planting, the more sensible and system- 

 atic care and pruning, the more intelligent manner of cultivation, and 

 the more honest and correct plan of gathering and marketing, as well 

 as keeping in cold storage. 



We can see the influence of our Society in the small-fruit planta- 

 tion, the manner of handling, the choice of ^varietiesj the distribution to 

 markets and the results obtained therefrom. We can see all this in 

 the vineyards, in the gardens, in the yards, in the parks, in the public 

 grounds, and in the homes scattered all over the State. 



