Winter Meeting. Ill 



WELCOME ADDRESS. 



(By Hon. W. G. Pendleton, Boonville.) 



Mr. Pendleton spoke of the pleasure it gave him to welcome 

 the guests to their lovely little city. In former days the surround- 

 ing hills were covered with trailing vines, from which had come 

 the name of "vine-clad." The hills were still in evidence, but most 

 of the vines were gone. This was a most appropriate place for a 

 meeting like this. The science and industry represented by this So- 

 ciety was of great importance and value to the world. The pro- 

 duction of the world's food supply must always be of first import- 

 ance to the race, and must always engage the labor and talents of a 

 large portion of the race. That part derived from horticulture 

 was both extensive and important. Dietarians do not agree upon 

 the exact relation of fruits to foods, but the very widest scope, 

 the most varied in kinds and the most abundant supply that can 

 be secured is necessary to the best progress of the race. The De- 

 partment of Horticulture is a source of large wealth to our peo- 

 ple; just what portion of the wealth of the country, I cannot give, 

 but it is very large. It is an important business for the individual 

 who engages in the same as an avocation, offers a profitable and 

 remunerative field for investment. To my mind it offers a most 

 attractive field for men and women of talent and energy. A large 

 number of people can make horticulture a valuable adjunct, both 

 thise in cities and those engaged in other agricultural pursuits. 

 I have often wondered why farms with waste places, like ravines, 

 gullies and stony places, left to grow up to thorns and waste, could 

 not be cleaned up and planted to nut or fruit trees. This would 

 add very much to the value of the holdings and the wealth of the 

 people. There has been much study along these lines, and great 

 advancement has been made in horticultural work in the im- 

 mediate past. Our knowledge of these things is much greater to- 

 day than at any time in the past history of the world. Led by the 

 wizard Burbank, who is startling the world by his wonderful pro- 

 duction along horticultural lines, and by the work of other men 

 and women, it is only reasonable to expect a great move forward in 

 this important work. I know very little of horticultue as a busi- 

 ness, though I was raised on a farm, but I have engaged in other 

 pursuits for the greater part of my life, and so can neither in- 

 struct nor entertain. I am merely here to perform the social func- 



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