36 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



PEESIDEXT'S ADDEESS. 



Members and friends of the Missouri State Horticultural Society : 



We have come together in this, our third senii-annual nieetiugv 

 We come for the purpose of exchanging ideas and discussing ques- 

 tions pertaining to the best interests of horticulture in Missouri. 



While these summer meetings are somewhat a new feature in the 

 work of the society, they are not without interest and great value. In 

 the early part of 1884 your Executive Committee feeling the necessity 

 for more thorough organization and better work, and in order to enlist 

 a greater number of members into the work of collecting products for 

 the New Orleans exposition, made arrangements for the first one of 

 these meetings, to be held in Springfield. That meeting proved a suc- 

 cess beyond the expectation of all, awakening an interest in southwest 

 Missouri that is still growing and is destined to grow on to grand pro- 

 portions. 



Encouraged by this success, the society at that meeting decided' 

 to repeat the effort the next year at some point to be selected by the 

 Executive Committee at a later date, and Butler, in Bates county, was 

 chosen as the place. That meeting was no less a success in any re- 

 spect than the first, and still encouraged, arrangements were made for 

 this the third one. And now with the advantage of our past exper- 

 ience and the fact that Louisiana is situated in one of the oldest por- 

 tions of the State and has always been famous for her horticultural 

 products, let us strive to make this better and' more profitable than 

 any former meeting of the society. 



Your committee have received many invitations to hold these 

 meetings from all parts of the State, and while they have not sought 

 or desireid to slight in the least any section, they could accept but one 

 at a time, and have endeavored to chose each time the place where 

 most good might be done. When these meetings were first talked of 

 the idea was to make the strawberry a leading feature, but now while 

 we do not by any means ignore it, we find very many other matters of 

 importance claiming our attention, other fruits of the season as well as 

 flowers and vegetables, are entitled to their share in our discussions.. 

 We are just from our spring work and our minds are fresh on many 

 points of interest that would be forgotten at our winter meeting. 



Here also we can cultivate our acquaintance and enjoy the social 



