Winter Meeting. 255 



the sap rushing along to the ends of the smallest bud and twig. To 

 watch the builder paint in red and gold the glory of his handiwork. 

 He who studies out under God of the open air must learn more than 

 commercialism. Yet many great men have entered commercialism. 

 * * * But horticulturists must make money in order to raise 

 little horticulturists. There are ideals and sham ideals. He was 

 right who said that it was the man behind the fruit tree who at- 

 tained the fullest success. No man does his best who does not 

 what his heart asks him to do. He does his best service in public 

 or in private life, when he gives the service of heart and head, as 

 well as of hands. * .* * Finally, may we not say that a good 

 apple is like a good man. For its greatest success it needs the sun- 

 shine, favoring winds, rain and a northern slope. Like it, a man 

 needs the sunshine of friends' approval, and the dew of human sym- 

 pathy, and the northern slope. King's children are not great men — 

 not the noble ones of earth. But the boy or girl who must buffet the 

 north winds are the ones who have gone forward to success. A 

 good apple is also like a good man in the way it grows. First 

 comes the stem — stiff and firm — like the stiff stem of righteousness. 

 But the stem is not the fruit, neither is the righteousness the chief 

 fruit of a human life. Then comes the bloom, beautiful to see, but 

 love is not the chief end of life. After righteousness comes loving 

 actions, called service. Then comes the golden fruit, bending down 

 from the stem. Fruit which is human service to mankind. My 

 message is simple, trite ard old-fashioned. Back of horticulture, 

 back of office and store, and the building of cities, the chief end of 

 life is not business, but the chief end of business is life. It is not 

 to make a living only, but to make a life. Will not the ideal citizen 

 of the State be he who in times of peace, as well as in times of war, 

 holds himself ready for public service? In certain forests we 

 find blazed trees, which mean that these trees are set aside for the 

 king's use. The kings of this country are you — man and woman. 

 The old motto was each one for himself and his majesty for us all. 

 But it is changed now, and not each for himself, but each man for 

 the other one. The man who gathers around the hearthstone of a 

 home builded in God's name, with flowers blooming at his doorway, 

 with friends to taste of his hospitality and bid him God-speed, 

 children to play at his knee, with books on his shelves and who 

 holds himself ready to be of use to any who may need him — if he 

 grows apples, all well ; if he grows grain, all well ; or toil anywhere, 

 all well ; but the only worthy citizen in this or any other state is he 

 who holds himself ready to put forth the best service for the com- 



