136 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL. SOCIETY. 



their hun<>Ty lives. Gross material utilities can be tastefully disouised, 

 unsiglitly necessities can be lost sight of among vines and shrubbery,, 

 and thus the weeds of disgust and discontent be choked out by the 

 flowers of love and interest. 



This is the work the horticulturist is doing and his true value must 

 be measured by tbe effects of his toil. Horticulture deals largely with, 

 the ornamental and the refining of taste; and its mission, while it does 

 not lose sight of the financial, has much to do with the humanizing of 

 all the homely pursuits of life. By its ministering, the power of home 

 influence is strengthened and intensified, and brought nearer to the 

 source of all beauty and truth. The needs of the world are men of 

 honor, intelligence and morality. Horticulture, in its effects, teaches 

 all these and more. It touches the best interests of mankind, in its- 

 effects upon the moral and mental character of the private citizen, pre- 

 serving the integrity of society and the stabilitv of the government; 

 and manhood, developed under its influence, will show a broader 

 charity or a higher taste and a symmetry of character which shall do 

 much to counteract the evils and vices which seem now to rule the 

 world, in the high places of public trust. 



Horticulture should be encouraaed, if for no other reason, then for 

 the one paramount fact that the uses of the beautiful things which it is- 

 yearly giving to the world, will elevate and ennoble mankind as noth- 

 ing else ever will or can. IDYLL. 



(Mrs. i^ellie Watts McVey.) 



Sedalia, Mo. 



President — Does anyone wish to make any remarks on the paper 

 just read ; if not, we will pass to the next subject? 



L. A. Goodman — I wish to give an instance of the use of the beau- 

 tiful. Of all the beautiful evergreens we have, the White Spruce is al- 

 most the nearest perfect. It is perfectly hardy. It is a tree of perfect 

 symetry by a little clipping. If anyone can see a grove of White 

 Spruce and not admire it, it is beyond mj comprehension. Another 

 tree, beautiful by shearing is the White Pine. You need not fear to 

 shear it or cut' its leading shoot. Among deciduous trees the Tulip 

 tree is a tree of beautiful growth. I think the Sugar Maple stands at 

 at the head of the list of our native trees. It is a thing of beauty from 

 the time the leaves start in the spring till they drop in the fall. It is, 

 without leaves, of such symmetrical growth that it is beautiful, even 

 naked. It is of slow growth. Buy trees from three to five years of 



