378 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



expansion of mind and soul and leaves good and lasting impressions. A 

 more forlorn, lonesome and ghastly sight can scarce present itself to 

 my imagination than a lone dwelling standing like gloom upon the 

 broad prairie, destitute of the surroundings of a tree or shrub. No flow- 

 er smilng on earth ; no bird to sing in air ; no music among the leaves, 

 treeless, shrubless — a picture of despair. Even the well-adorned ceme- 

 tery, " where the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep," has more at- 

 tractions than such a home. 



Horticulture teaches love. Love for the useful and beautiful — love 

 for labor — love for home — love for country — love to God. From it we 

 are taught to respect and to give honor due to honest toil. The pro- 

 ducer is the true source of wealth of both community and country. 

 The sturdy laborer is the real benefactor of society — the strong bul- 

 work of the government, and the nation's strength and support. The 

 hard hand of honest toil is the hand most worthy the warmest grasp. 

 The weather-beaten and sun-tanned face is the one to receive our most 

 generous greeting. 



Our teacher encourages and instructs us to practice as well as to in- 

 culcate the honor and dignity of labor, and to cheer and reward the gen- 

 uine son of toil, by defending the true worth of his profession, encourag- 

 ing his life and exalting him to the highest rank of position and profit. 



** Yes, to labor is divine, 



Pass the watch-word down the line ; 

 Pass the countersign — endure, 



Not to him who boldly dares, 

 But to him who nobly bears, 



Is the victor's garland sure." 



Whatever adorns and exalts should be encouraged for its influence 

 upon the mind and the heart. Arbor day should be strictly observed. 

 Although one of the last, though by no means the least of the fixed days, 

 whose annual return should be sacredly observed and honored in the 

 grand work of tree planting ; teaching the children to look forward to its 

 coming with bright anticipations and the faithful fulfillment of its require- 

 ments, by setting at least one tree or shrub, that will tell in the future, 

 and stand as a living monument, bearing the inscription that life was not 

 in vain, that we lived for others. 



" The works of the person that builds begin immediately to decay ; 

 while those of him who plants begin directly to improve." 



