Winter Meeting. 187 



Kansas blizzard blows me back to dear old Tennessee. The other Moses 

 died on Mt. -Nebo many, many years ago, but our Moses is with us 

 yet. 



His mission on earth is not finished. He is as ready today as he 

 ever was, to give the members of this Society, and all others who may 

 seek it, the benefit of his knowledge and experience without money and 

 without price. Therefore, I say, as ilMozart did, on one occassion in con- 

 gratulating a worthy friend on his birthday : "May he live and prosper 

 till he is a hundred years old, and not die till he is a thousand." 



But while Colonel Evans is no longer at the helm of our ship, as he 

 was twenty years ago, Mr. Goodman is still our Secretary. 



He, like Colonel Evans, has stood by this Society in times of weal 

 and times of woe, in weather fair and weather foul. 



We have good reason to look upon him as one of the main pillars of 

 our temple and as a leading champion of our cause. This Society has 

 confidence in his ability and his integrity, and believes that he will always 

 do his part to assist in guiding and directing our ship of state — even over 

 the occassional rough seas of dissension — into the haven of prosperity 

 and harmony. 



If I mistake not, it was General Dix who said on one occassion, 

 "If any man attempt to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the 

 spot." I believe I am safe in saying that should any man, or any set 

 of men attempt to lower the banner of our Society, its members will 

 treat them likewise. At any rate, we will defend the honor of our 

 Society, and if long and faithful service is an index to a man's personal 

 and ofi:'icial character, we will stand by our Secretary. 



The (Missouri State Horticultural Society was organized in 1859 

 mainly for the purpose of educating and instructing its members how to 

 grow fruit by an exchange of mutual experience and investigation. Those 

 who have belonged to the Society for many years, attended its meetings 

 and read its reports regularly can testify how well this purpose has been 

 accomplished up to the present time. But no matter how much progress 

 the grower may have made. in producing a higher grade and larger quan- 

 tities of fruit, because of the aid received from this Society, it would 

 benefit him in a financial way but little, without finding a proper market 

 for it- How to find a proper market, it becomes necessary to consider 

 the question of transportation. 



During the early period of the existence of this Society, and even 

 as late as twenty years ago, the production of fruit was not so great as 

 to make this question of as vital importance as it is today. In discussing 

 this question of transportation, as briefly as I can, I will say in the 



