Additional Papers. 137 



Botany and its delightful study, the knowing of our plants, shrubs 

 and trees by name, learning the uses and actions of leaves, roots, 

 branches and bodies, watching the development of flower or bud 

 growth, learning how plants grow, how plants feed, seeking to find 

 if possible if there be any way to feed plants, and trees and fruits so 

 that we can know the results as we know the effect of corn on our 

 hogs and cattle, feeding our strawberries so that the berry will be 

 firm instead of soft, growing our trees so that they will be more hardy. 

 The improvement of our apples by selection of special individual 

 trees, for propagation is being more and more brought to our atten- 

 tion. I am so thoroughly convinced of its value that I hail with glad- 

 ness a confirmation of the statements I have made so many times. In 

 geology you will see another opening for study ; the knowledge of 

 our soils, knowing where certain varieties will succeed best, seeking 

 out the secrets of our soils have so long held. 



Today I say that there opens up no broader or more desirable 

 profession in all this land of ours than this one of horticulture, no 

 better line for study if you want to study, no better opportunity for 

 investigation than is here offered you, no surer gain from a field of 

 work than Pomona and Flora stand ready to pour into your lap, no 

 more delightful scope of thought and beauty, of love and intelligence 

 than is placed before you in the decorating of our waste places for 

 planting our yards, our parks, our orchards. 



If we have anything to be proud of, after being proud of our 

 State, it is to be proud of the development of horticulture, which has 

 given us avenues of profit and pleasure, open ways for any to follow, 

 as well as great work still to do, great studies still to be pursued and 

 great problems still to be solved. 



Our work has grown and grown until now its influence is felt in 

 every state of the Union ; and I speak the truth soberly and earnestly 

 when I say that no other state has a better State Society nor more 

 earnest worlcers than has -Missouri ; and with unity and sympathy of 

 feeling, all pulling together, united and strong, we shall step upon a 

 higher level of usefulness. There are grand possibilities before us yet, 

 and it is our aim and ambition that our Society attain this highest point. 



HORTICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS. 



This school at St. Louis, in connection with the Washington 

 University, gives an opportunity for a few boys or girls to get a 

 practical education in greenhouse work, botany, fruits or vegetables 

 or ornamental tree planting, and a four years' course is provided for 



