52 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



brightened the dull room and caused many a sufferer to forget their 

 pain. If those who cultivate flowers could realize the satisfaction, the 

 enjoyment there is in the possession of a few flowers, they would be 

 more thoughtful about sending them forth on their cheering mission. 

 In the awful tragedy that but lately sent a thrill of horror through- 

 out the land (the murder of Sarah Graham), one kind heart was 

 prompted to lay a wreath of flowers on the casket that held the muti- 

 lated form of the victim, the form that had once been beautiful with 

 youth and health. It was a christian act and will never, never be for- 

 gotten by the heart-broken sister of the poor murdered wife. Only a 

 few days since millions of Missouri flowers were bought by loving 

 hands to decorate the graves of the nation's dead. They were strewn 

 over the last resting place of both the blue and the gray, and shed 

 forth their sweet perfume alike for both. The past winter, though 

 stern, has been kind to the Missouri flowers. Before sending forth the 

 Ice King he carefully covered the earth with a coverlet of snow, and 

 when that was worn away another took its place and the roots and 

 bulbs and seedlings were safe and warm beneath it, and when spring- 

 came with its gentle breath they sprang forth to meet her. Spring has 

 held undisputed sway, nor suffered the blighting frosts to chill them, 

 and there were never as many beautiful flowers as now. Delicate Tea 

 Roses have survived the winter in the open borders. The Marchal 

 Neil, Etovle de Lyon, Marie Guillot, Lazarene Poizeau, Pearl de Jardin, 

 White Tea, and many others are blooming on strong, vigorous shoots, 

 giving a wealth of bloom in striking contrast to those that have been 

 set this spring. Greater attention is paid to flowers than ever before. 

 There is a constantly increasing demand for them, and no home is con- 

 sidered perfect without its flower bed. The Horticultural Societies are 

 largely responsible for this state of affairs. Their continually agitating 

 the subject has produced good results until a neglected yard is criti- 

 cized as severely as an untidy house. 



May they go on wiih the good work until all the homes in the land 

 are beautified and enriched with the choicest blessings of horticulture. 



MES. WADE BUEDEN. 



Springfield, Mo., June 5, 1886. 



Mr. Nielson — The beautiful song sung just a few moments ago 

 carried me back to last Sunday evening when I heard the song, "I Am 

 the Light of the World." Fruits and flowers are next to Christianity in 

 lifting us upward from the earth towards our maker. 



Of flowers I may say there are three kinds: bedding flowers to 

 decorate our home grounds, lovely flowers in pots and cut flowers ar- 



