428 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



finding seats at the tables where they were cared for by a number of 

 the charming- young ladies of the village. Dinner over, the seats were 

 arranged before the door of the house and President Earle was es- 

 corted to the entrance and introduced as toast-master. After a few 

 words of thanks for the reception the president introduced Kev. Mr. 

 Webster, of Euclid, who related some of the history of the county society, 

 and in its behalf welcomed the members of the American organization. 

 The first toast read by the president was, "Horticulture — It is a good 

 thing — good for the young as it keeps them busy, and good for the old 

 folks, for they grow old handsomely." Mr. J. M. Smith, of Wisconsin, 

 was called on for a response, and said : "I was afraid until about two 

 minutes ago that I would not respond to this toast as I feared the good 

 people of Euclid were trying to kill us by overfeeding. I wish to say 

 right here that I had heard there were some large vineyards in Ohio, 

 but had I known of these extensive farms in the vicinity of Cleveland 

 I would not have attempted to enlighten them on grape culture. From 

 the examination of your fruits I am prepared to maintani that the Buck- 

 eyes know how to farm, and it would be poor taste for me to address 

 them upon agriculture. The toast says that horticulture keeps the 

 young busy. It does. It makes a pleasant work for boys and girls. 

 I know of no other occupation more ennobling, and so productive of 

 o'ood results. I have often wondered if a wicked man could be a hor- 

 ticulturist and go about his work without feeling out of place. I know 

 of no profession so conducive to longevity as the study of horticulture. 

 It is a refining study and the student cannot but become educated in 

 the science." 



Professor Lazenby, of Columbus, responded to the toast : " Hor- 

 ticulture as a profession as well as an art and as business." The pro- 

 fessor said : " Horticulture is a fine art. This is especially true of the 

 branch known as floriculture. As a business some object to horticul- 

 ture on the ground that it does not pay. I believe it does pay. We 

 speak of failures and think of untimely frosts, and rots, and nests, and 

 mildew and bugs, and then realize that there are great risks to run in 

 horticulture. But there are risks to run in other professions, and it 

 takes years to climb to the top in any business. When Herbert Spen- 

 cer was in this country he was asked what feature of American life he 

 would criticise, ^nd in reply said that in America life was for work and 

 study when work and study should be for life. So it is that our work 

 and study give us the pleasure that makes life worth living. Horticul- 

 turists deal with nature. We cannot sow figs for thistles and we must 

 reap as we sow. Horticulture provides us a luxury by giving us 



