10 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL, SOCIETY. 



Borne at one time carried the art to a high degree, and might justly 

 have been called a nation of horticulture. As no one was permitted to 

 own and cultivate more than seven Boinan acres, equal to five of our 

 acres, this was certainly garden culture. And during this period she 

 became rich and powerful, and no nation, that was so unfortunate as to 

 incur her displeasure could long stand before her conquering legions. 

 ~No stronger safeguard could now be thrown around the temple of 

 American liberty than the ownership of small tracts of land highly im- 

 proved by the art of horticulture. Surround them with fruits and 

 flowers, and all that will exalt and embellish civilized life, no danger 

 but the people will love such homes; and the love of home begets the 

 purest and strongest patriotism. 



When we take into consideration the wide range of horticultural 

 pursuits, the vast amount and variety of labor to be performed, we can 

 at once see that no other industry will give healthy and profitable em- 

 ployment to so great a number of people, and so well suited to the poor 

 and wealthy classes. In no other calling can we better prepare to feed, 

 clothe and sustain the coming millions of our rapidly increasing popu- 

 lation. Nothing is better suited to draw off the pent-up and over- 

 crowded population of our large cities, and roll back the great wave of 

 discontent and crime growing out of idleness. 



Fruit-growing in the United States has made very rapid progress 

 in the last ten years, which is largely due to the work of our State and 

 local societies, aided by that wonderful and potent engine of power, the 

 printing press, which, I am happy to say, has ever been friendly to our 

 cause. 



I am well aware that some timorous mortals are crying over-pro- 

 duction; that it won't pay to grow fruit; but they belong to the old 

 croaker family, that have ever been a dead weight to the human race 

 in her march of progress. I tell you, my friends, that it will pay us to 

 grow all the good fruit we can for home consumption and for market. 

 The fruit growing interest of the United States is fast assuming a 

 position of national importance, and should receive the fostering care 

 and aid of the general government. We should have a Bureau of Hor- 

 ticulture, with a commissioner, aided by a corps of able workers and 

 backed by the necessary funds to give this great industry more rapid 

 development. Let this be done and it will soon become a thing of 

 national wealth and pride. The great arteries of trade will receive new 

 blood and life, and commerce will continue to roll her golden tide 

 along. 



