Winter Meeting:. 249 



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First of all, let ns see liow the student has been benefitted by this 

 knowledge. It is a fact that botany like any other science has come 

 to the front as a study well calculated to develop the powers of ob- 

 servation and the reasoning faculties. And with the splendid her- 

 beria, broad reference library and the abundance of material, both 

 living and preserved, which the student may have access to, he may 

 "receive such training as will give him a firm foundation from which 

 he may delve into the wealth of discovery which lies just within his 

 reach. 



Agriculture and horticulture are so closely related to botany that 

 it is scarcely necessary Lo mention the dependence of the successful 

 farmer, fruit grOv/er or florist, upon an intelligent understanding of 

 and conformity to the laws of vegetable physiology in the operation 

 of his everyda}-- life. The nurseryman and the florist are perforce 

 botanists. To them a general knowledge of systematic botany and 

 r.;at careful development of the powers of observation, which a close 

 study of the characters of plants gives, go far to assure success 

 when combined with shrewd business tact and a practical familiarity 

 with the manual process of their vocation. 



That the Missouri Botanical Garden and School of Botany might 

 be of the greatest utility in gathering and disseminating of this 

 knowledge was the express wish of its founder. Again, the farmer 

 should be well versed in forestry and familiar with the weeds of the 

 farm, and the most successful means of contending with them and 

 repressing their advances. The reckless manner in which the most 

 troublesome weeds are scattered from farm to farm and from State 

 to State with clover and grass seed, necessitates a knowledge of their 

 seeds such as can be obtained only by careful study. 



To provide for this we have the splendid Arboretum and grass 

 garden where the student may study the forest trees and our native 

 grasses and also the weeds. Here in the Mississippi valley the horti- 

 culturist contends with climatic conditions unknown in the east or 

 in the coast countries of Europe, whence we have received many of 

 the valued varieties which we are trying — often in vain — to cultivate, 

 as well as the methods of treatment by which we struggle for success. 

 The coming fruit grower must rely upon the teachings of botanical 

 geography in the selection of varieties and upon a most exact under- 

 standing of the best methods of breeding and selecting new races of 

 hardy percentage if he would advance to that success which is ulti- 

 mately hoped for in this changeable and severe climate. 



This home creating and home beautifying interest is not lost 

 sight of in the course of instruction mapped out for the student of 

 the Missouri Botanical Garden. 



