Annual Meeting at St. Joseph. 185 



Perhaps some of the friends present (I hope none or not 

 many) may not rehsh moralizing ; they desire only practical 

 thoughts from the essayist to whom has been assigned the subject 

 of ornamental planting. Ornamental planting is practical poetry, 

 and what has been said is a ver}'^ natural avenue thereto. 



The most of the citizens of Missouri have passed the first and 

 second stages of new settlements, in which it is claimed, though 

 not always truthfully, that first efforts should be directed to ob- 

 taining from the soil the substantials for subsistence. This is 

 correct only in part. In looking for a site for the new dwelling 

 on the new eighty or quarter section, the owner very naturally 

 takes into consideration the physical condition or lay of the land, 

 the presence or absence of timber or water from spring or running 

 brook or stream, the elevation or undulation of the soil, and aims 

 to make these natural conditions subservient to the ultimate beauty 

 of the completed and perfected home. 



No man of common sense would ever try to make a home in a 

 swamp ; there no home, could be beautiful, and malarial diseases 

 would be his portion forever. If the choice lies between a swamp 

 and plenty of convenient water and a high and dry knoll or plateau, 

 where water would have to be supplied by artificial and costly 

 means, he will not hesitate to choose the latter. 



Suppose the place selected for a home should be a portion of a 

 high and rolling prairie, void of all timber ; what's to be done ? 

 Anywhere in Missouri or Kansas, the first acre of soil broken by 

 the plow can be made to produce with the useful also the orna- 

 mental. It could be planted to potatoes and other vegetables in 

 such a manner that peach pits should be sown in every third or 

 fourth row to the extent of a bushel or more, and beyond these, to 

 the extent of half an acre at least, soft or silver-leaved maple 

 should be planted. In most instances this might be done and not 

 interfere much with the cultivation of vegetables on the same 

 ground. These young maj^les and peach trees, for a purpose here 

 shall be designated as nurse-trees. They are fast growers and will 

 soon protect the evergreens and deciduous trees which are to be 

 planted for permanency, while but few of the seedling peaches and 

 maples are to be thus retained. Having established permanent 

 roadways to the dwelling and out-houses, I would plant on the now 

 cultivated soil, evergreens in large numbers, especially the Scotch 

 and Austrian pines ; the white pine also does well in most localities, 

 while the spruces can be made most dense, the silvery sheen of 

 most varieties forming a pleasing contrast with the dark green 



