Winter Meeting. _ 153 



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fied interests. A portion is devoted to forage plants of known value and 

 fed to best stock ; another part to horticulture and set to desirable trees 

 and vines. In the future every avenue will be made to pay interest upon 

 investment. 



The modern farmer is a combination of brain and muscle, and, or- 

 ganized, is an educated power in the land. His services are in demand 

 wherever men of character and determination are wanted. In the field 

 of literature and commerce, he is respected in every sphere of Hfe. 



Twenty years ago the farm mortgage was the terror of Southwest 

 Missouri. There was apparently no hope for the farm but bondage to the 

 money lender. This has changed. Farmers are freer of debt, and it 

 ia a fact that farmers have bank accounts in excess of merchants and other 

 business men. Success has come from land development and practical 

 experimental demonstration that our soil and climate conditions are 

 favorable for a diversity of horticultural enterprises. Horticulture, 

 which should be known as the mortgage lifter of Southwest Missouri, and 

 organization, have give us this rapid growth. A few years ago, a few 

 k^cal men, who have walked the floor until weary, saw, and grasping the 

 opportunity, gathered the scattered aimless and antagonistic threads of 

 local horticulture and wove them into an organization. Organization 

 everywhere, means the same thing. It means control, and control means 

 prices for products that justify the labor and energy expended in pro- 

 duction. Neosho has ceased to be a cheap market for local products, and 

 we are glad because we all, in varying degree, share the profits of pros- 

 perous horticulture. 



The welcome Neosho extends you is most cordial. We are sure 

 your sessions will be interesting and profitable. We hope you will carry 

 home pleasant remembrances of our prosperous city and people. 



WORDS OF GREETING. 



(J. B. Graves Neosho, Mo.) 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen of the State Horticultural Society: 

 Representing the Neosho Fruit Growers' and Shippers' Association, 

 of which I am a member, and for them, I am here to extend to you the 

 glad hand ; to give you a warm and generous greeting. There is no 

 body of organized laborers on the earth, in the earth, or under the earth 

 to whom we would give a more enthusiastic greeting than to you horti- 

 culturists of our own beloved State, together with your guests and co- 



