WINTER MEETING AT LEBANON. 267 



It is our province to let them be known, and we are doing this by 

 our fruit shows, by our State society, by our local societies, by our indi- 

 vidual efforts, and by the results shown from some of our orchards, and 

 by the fruits now on the tables. 



All in the world this land wants is some men of intelligence and 

 grit to develop them, open them for settlement and improvement. 

 From efvery county of this special region comes the report over and 

 over again, " come and see our apples," " our peaches," " our berries." 

 Before this land is one-tenth as well developed as are the famous peach 

 regions of Delaware, it will be known world-wide. 



I do not speak disparagingly of any portion of the State when I say 

 what I do about this district. Our State as a whole is ahead of any 

 other State of the Union. 



Do you want blue-grass lauds ? Here you can find them along the 

 Missouri river equal to those of noted Kentucky. Do you want meadow 

 lands? You can find them in the northern part of the State equal to 

 those of Michigan. Are you seeking rich farms ? You will find our 

 rolling prairies equal to the flat lands of Illinois. Will you have tobacco 

 lands or hemp lands ? Along the Missouri river you will find the bot- 

 toms equal to those of Virginia, in her best days. Are you after fine 

 horses ? Look about you. Do you need an extra fine mule or jack? 

 Here you can get them. Yermont has fine sheep, we have better. New 

 York has grand cattle, we have grander. Do you see a mine of coal, 

 iron, zinc, paints, lead ? Nowhere in such abundance as in Missouri. 

 Are there fine quarries of stone ? We have the best of limestone, 

 granite, sandstone, marble, onyx. Do you wish health giving springs? 

 All over our State they are in abundance. Are you seeking pine ? Our 

 south country is filled with it. Are there wagon or bridge timbers in 

 Indiana? We have them more abundantly. Would you see beautiful 

 prairies ? Here they are. Can others grow grains ? See the abund- 

 ance of corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, hay, flax, timothy seed, clover, 

 hemp, tobacco, potatoes, cabbage, celery to rival that of Kalamazoo, 

 strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, pears, peaches, apples, 

 as fine as ever were seen. Would you have me say more ? Nay, but I 

 would never get through telling of the advantages of Missouri in soil, 

 climate or productions. 



And of all this wefitern horticulture, what is the part our society 

 should play in its development? While our western horticulture is 

 distinct and special in its work and development, our State societies 

 have caused them to be so. 



It is necessary in all the peculiarities of this great business for our 

 State society to do her part, and she is ready to give her aid wherever it 



