SUMMER MEETING AT OREGON. 37 



— and wc hail with dclii^ht your organized effort to bring about just 

 such a desirable state of affairs as this. The more the farmer, the 

 orchardist, the gardener, or the florist shall labor with his brain, the less 

 he will be obliged to labor with his hands, and we hope that this or- 

 ganization of yours may soon be able to make us all realize that fact. 



Horticulture implies perfection in methods of tilling the soil, and 

 we should never be satisfied with any degree of proficiency in our work 

 until that perfection is reached. The horticulturalist lives in a great 

 labratory, with important chemical operations constantly going on 

 around him , and in order to combat the evil and successfully turn to 

 useful account the good elements, he should have some knowledge of the 

 processes of chemistry. Insects and plants are also continually around 

 and before him ; and it is important that he should understand the 

 habits of the one and the qualities of the other in order that, on the one 

 hand he may avoid damage, and that, on the other hand, he may secure 

 profit. There are a great many things that the horticulturist should 

 know in order that he may be enabled to reap the best results from his 

 work — in fact, he should be as near all wase as it is possible for the 

 helpless mortals of this earth to be. 



As it is so necessary then for the successful prosecution of our 

 work as horticulturists that we be thoroughly informed — that we 

 study and investigate as fully as possible into wonders and mys- 

 teries of nature and creation — so we should be willing students, 

 ready to gather information from every source that is open to in- 

 quiring minds ; observation, interrogation, experiment and scientific 

 investigation. Neither should we be selfish in matters of this kind, 

 and hide our lights under a bushel ; but on the contrary, when 

 success has crowned our efforts we should inform our neighbor by what 

 avenue that success came, and interchange ideas with him upon the 

 various matters which concern us both — just as you of this society have 

 met here to-day to do. It is by such means as these that we all become 

 more enlightened upon questions concerning our business. The farmer 

 proper has his Grange, the physician his Medical Association, the 

 preacher his Conference, the lawyer his Alliance, the laborer his Union 

 League — and so, it is meet that the great horticultural interests of our 

 state should be looked after by just such an organization as this one of 

 yours has so thoroughly proven itself to be. Organization among you 

 becomes a mutual benefit to your state and to yourselves. " United we 

 stand, divided, we fail," was in years agone engraved upon the coat-of- 

 arms of our state as the especial motto of Missourians ; and that the rep- 

 resentatives of any idea or industry must unite in order that they may 



