270 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the whole will be rearranged and classified for use in public schools, 

 and then we will seek for desired legislation to allow its use. 



We have every assurance that Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Ohio will 

 join us this year by appointing similar committees in their several 

 State societies on horticultural education to co-operate with us. Thus 

 we hope the work will enlarge and develop until it is consummated in 

 the desired result. 



Last winter we acquainted the school teachers of this State with 

 the year's work when they met in their State convention at Sedalia. 

 We hope to do the same this year at Jefferson City. We ask the co- 

 opeiation of all friends of this movement in all education. 



G. B. Lamm, Sedalia. 



DISCUSSION. 



Prof. Whitten — This Society is doing a good work in pushing horti- 

 cultural work along in the schools. This year the demand for instruc- 

 tion in horticulture at the University was larger than ever before. 

 There were thirty teachers in our summer course. Thirteen of these 

 took the course in horticulture. The result was that at the end of the 

 short six-week course they were very much enthused over the work. 

 So far as known, no other institution in the United States of America 

 has offered any such course. Naturally the teachers who attend this 

 summer course demand instruction in the branches which are required 

 in the common schools. Horticalture is not required ; yet the Univers- 

 ity took it up and pushed it. This shows that the University is anxious 

 to meet the demand of the people of the State. I think Mr. Lamm 

 will believe that the University is willing to co-operate with the horti- 

 culturists in teaching this subject in the public schools. 



Sec. Goodman — Twenty-five years ago w^e began the agitation of 

 teaching horticulture in the schools. We are making progress. We 

 will get all these things in the proper time and way. We do not expect 

 it to displace dead languages and sciences. Horticulture in the schools 

 must come as a growth, or it cannot come at all. Our State Superin- 

 tendent has recognized three books on horticulture as textbooks in 

 the schools. It is not necessary to teach horticulture without regard 

 to other things. It is hard to teach things that nobody wants to learn. 

 When I went to Columbia to teach horticulture, I said, " Boys do you 

 want to know something about horticulture ? If you do, I will be glad 

 to help you : but if you do not, I do not care to teach you." When 

 children get older and want to know anything of importance in a 

 business way, they will learn as much in six weeks as they would have 



