ANNUxVL MEETING AT LEXINGTON. 129 



telligence of the people. If we examine into the cause, we will almost 

 invariably find that where the soil is poor, it is, also, cheap, and there 

 the laud-holders vastly outnumber the renters. The people, also, prac- 

 tice a better system of farming; and horticulture, with its refining 

 tendencies, is considered as almost indispensable for the prosperity of 

 the community. 



It should be a part of the mission of local horticultural societies 

 to endeavor to foster a desire on the part of tenant farmers for a lease- 

 hold, at least long enough to enable them to plant some berries for 

 home use, and also to so beautify their homes by planting flowers and 

 shrubs on a well kept door-yard, that the pleasure of life in the coun- 

 try will be gre-itly enhanced. There are few things that so fill up our 

 ideal of bounteous plenty as an orchard full of choice fruits, ripening 

 into mellow sweetness in the rich amber light of the autumn sun. 



DISCUSSION. 



President — Anyone has the privilege of saying anything more on 

 this subject. 



Mr. X. F. j\Iurray—l think it is the duty of the horticulturists of 

 Missouri to foster the desire on the part of the people to secure homes. 

 A gaeat many young men go west and " sow their wild oats." What a 

 good thing it would be for them if we could just persuade them to stay 

 at home and raise tame oats, strawberries and apples. Good lands can 

 be bought in Missouri, in sight of a railroad depot, for $10 an acre. 



Mr. Burkes — I think it would be a mutual benefit to tenant and 

 landlord, to build cottages and give the tenants the greater part of the 

 profits in order to induce him to improve the land. We all know that 

 a family man is much more reliable upon a farm than a single man. 



Air. FoUett — I am surprised at the position from which this ques- 

 tion has been discussed. Can not we make some plan by which the 

 man who cultivates the land should own it? 



President — My experience is that both the tenant and the landlord 

 have a hard time. It is difficult tP tell which has the hardest time. 



H. R.— 9 



