38 State Horticultural Society. 



REMARKS. 



Secretary Goodman — I want to speak a word along one part 

 of the subject contained in this paper which told so well of the 

 evolution of flowers from v/eeds. Each year I find that weeds are 

 more valuable. We have been seeking out and using the clovers and 

 cow-peas for fertilizers. As many know, it is almost impossible to 

 keep some orchards as clean as is best for them. In some parts 

 of the State we would lose much of the fertility by perfectly clean 

 culture, washing rains bringing out the humus. For the past four 

 or five years I have become a lover of weeds in the orchard to use 

 for fertilizer and help put back fertility in the soil. I am sure 

 that the use of these weeds in our orchards is worth many times 

 more than what we have thought. Turning under a crop of green 

 weeds, we find, gives a wonderful value. If we will learn and knov/ 

 what they will do for us, we will find a great value in these weeds 

 which we would otherwise lose. Many roots of weeds are found 

 covered with nodules, almost as valuable as on the clover plants. 

 The paper just read brought out the value of weeds as flowers, and 

 this thought the fruit-grower should take to his heart. 



Mr. Green — This reminds me of a story from California. Fif- 

 teen thousand full-blown blooms on one rose plant. I had the rose 

 fever once, and budded a plant until I had every kind of a rose in 

 the neighborhood on one bush. This is an easy thing to do, and 

 very interesting. 



THE USEFULNESS OF BIRDS. 



(J. R. L. Clarksou, Mobeily, Mo.) 



This paper was read by Mrs. J. P. Sinnock : 



They are our best friends; they work for us day and night; 

 there are bugs and worms that fly and crawl at night; there are 

 night birds, too. We have in Missouri a grand, a glorious State; 

 mighty streams of water flow through it; deep forests shelter its 

 birds; broad prairies nurture its cattle, its horses, its sheep; high 

 ^•'Ountains raise their heads towards the sky; deep valleys lend it 

 picturesque beauty; corn and other grain, and fruit, furnish food 

 for man ; lovely homes, draped in vines, give shelter to an upright, 

 sturdy people. But what would all this be if it were not for birds ? 

 A desolate place, a habitation for bugs and worms. God made 



