38 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the means required to do it — they will not hesitate to give ns what we 

 want. I therefore recommend that we appeal to the next general as- 

 sembly of the state, and ask that the appropriation to the State Horti- 

 cultural Society be increased from $1,250 a year to $2,500 a year, or 

 $5,000 for the two years. This will enable us to make exhibitions of 

 •the horticultural products of our state, do our routine work, and assist 

 in organizing- more local societies. A number of them have been or- 

 ganized in different parts of the state, and they are doing good work,, 

 but we want more of them. There should be at least one for every 

 two counties in the state. If there were no local societies, we would 

 have no state society. The more local societies there are the more 

 efficient will be the work of this societh. AVe want to make this society 

 more useful to the members and more valuable to the state, and we 

 must depend on the local societies to help us to do it. Our state is 

 rapidty increasing in wealth and population, and it stands us in hand 

 to keep pace with the times. 



Now, our society, meeting as it does on the tramping grounds of 

 one of the leading horticulturists of the state (our old friend Mr. Wm.. 

 Stark)^ who was always present at these meetings, and whom we knew 

 but to admire. We remember him now as one of the leaders of fruit 

 growing interests of the state, and as one who had much to do with the 

 position our state now occupies as a fruit state. So then, meeting here 

 with the sons of our old friend, we are glad to know they have lost 

 none of the zeal of their father. 



Let us, then, continue our good work, remembering that we have 

 more of the pleasure of life in our work than is usually allotted to 

 other business. Our future is bright, and we have nothing to fear if 

 we only work with earnestness and zeal. T^o state opens greater op- 

 portunities to the fruit-grower, nor gives greater advantages. Let us. 

 take them. 



