468 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIKTY. 



and money in perfecting the great work, but our space will not now per- 

 mit their enumeration. They shall not go unnoticed, however. The 

 names of all who have contributed to the success of this enterprise must 

 be placed upon record that when the fiist train of refrigerator cars loaded 

 with our choicest fruits pulls out of South Missouri before the year 1895 

 they may be called together to witness the grand outcome of the mis- 

 sionary work they are doing to-day. 



We have said in the past that Missouri had room for hundreds of 

 thousands of farmers from other states less favorably situated, but she 

 does not need them half as badly as they need her. Within the years 

 past millions of well-to-do, intelligent men have passed by and through 

 the state who might better far have stayed here; they have gone farther 

 and fared worse; they are now begging their way back to a decent soil 

 and an habitable climate. — Rjiral World. 



PRACTICAL AND POETICAL BIRD LIFE. 



BY MARY IIOLSINGER, ROSEDALE, K.\S. 



[Read before the August meeting of the Missouri Valley Horticul- 

 tural Society.] 



As students of everything pertaining to successful fruit growing, 

 the members of this society have studied carefully the food and habits 

 of our feathered songsters in order to determine their exact relation to 

 horticulture. Yet I wonder how many of us have looked beyond their 

 utility, and the pleasure which they give us, to think that these same 

 musicians are of mpre than passing interest to the people far removed 

 from vineyards and cherry orchards. 



We have learned that besides being on the farm as consumers of 

 insects, caterpillars and surplus small fruits, the birds have another and 

 loftier mission which they fulfill in the grand concerts with which they 



