150 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



It is cold now, and when we wake up in the morning we find the 

 thermometer down to 10 degrees above zero. Peaches in bloom, trees 

 leafing out, gardens made, lawns decorated, plants out and vegetables 

 up, and it was cold. I believe when it is cold in Texas it is colder than 

 any other place I know of, even if the thermometer does not register 

 so low. It is at least colder when it is not cold than it is in Missouri 

 when it is cold. 



I expect the fruit was badly injured, and look for but few peaches 

 from Xorth Texas. The party were taken in charge by our friend 

 Howell and driven over the city, where everywhere were to be seen 

 indications of growth and prosperity. This city seems more like Kan- 

 sas City in its growth and push than any other city we have seen on 

 our travels. 



Thus hurriedly have I given you a sketch of our travels through 

 Texas, for fear I might weary you and your readers. We were glad to 

 find so much very excellent land in Texas, and were agreeably surprised 

 to find so much of development as we saw. 



Truly this is a great country and a great people. Xothing seems 

 to stand in their way, no obstacles too great to be overcome, and who 

 can imagine what this country will be in another 100 years? Perhaps 

 Bellamy is not far out of the way in "Looking Backward" after all. 



Xext time, Mr. Editor, we go on such a trip, all I have to say is for 

 you to come along, and we will try to make you happy, too. 



L. A. Gr. 



RAILROADS IN HORTICULTURE* 



To say that horticulture is indebted to railroads for the important 

 position it has assumed among the industries of the country is to make 

 an assertion with which many people will not agree, without first giving 

 some attention to an investigation of the matter ; yet such is undoubt- 

 edly the case. It is within the memory of many persons present when 

 the only facilities for transportation in the great Mississippi valley were 

 those afforded by the water-courses, and none but the most hardy 

 varieties of fruits and vegetables could be sent to market, and only a 

 limited market could be found for our products. 



* An address by E. T. llollister, of St. Louis, Mo., before tbe American Horticultural society 

 at Austin, Texas, February, 1890. 



