ANNUAL MEETING AT LEXINGTON. 215 



Wliat means ha ze we at our command that may be utilized to 

 l)rinfi,' about this state of affairs ? If we look about us we will find that 

 we have more than, without thinking, we dream of. The farmers of this 

 State if they will, can interest in this matter that great and popular 

 body, the patrons of husbandry, a body of men loyal to the cause of 

 horticulture. As to agriculture, whose every interest is identified with 

 any and every thing this society can properly undertake, and be 

 counted on to co-operate with you in it. You have too that important 

 and influential body known as the State Board of Agriculture, who 

 ought to and doubtless would be willing, not alone to assist you in 

 formulating your claims upon the State, but as well to use all the 

 power of their influence in urging action thereupon. Indeed the Rural 

 World has time and again urged that to that body legitimately be- 

 longed the prerogative of considering the agricultural necessities of 

 the State in all possible particulars, of preparing laws necessary to 

 their observance and performance and then entreat the legislature to 

 pass the same for the relief of this great industry. Then you have the 

 press, not exactly at your command but ever responsive to j^our call, 

 whenever that call is properly made, to support your claims and to 

 present them for consideration and adoption. It is just possible that 

 you have not utilized this power for good, this all-pervading and all- 

 controling influence, as you might have done. In every county you 

 will find two or three papers supported by the farmers and measurably 

 responsive to their call. Hence, with patrons of husbandry in every 

 county, farmers and horticulturists in every county, newspapers in 

 every county, and the State Board a standing committee at large, the 

 Missouri State Horticultural Society ought to be able to so influence a 

 majority of the members of the legislature as to carry any proper and 

 legitimate claim it may have to press upon its attention. 



Some of you gentlemen present will say this is a very fair scheme, 

 but is it practicable ? Who have we to undertake the work, where are 

 the necessary funds to come from and how, generally, are we to go 

 about it ? The plan is feasible and the work comparatively easy if sys- 

 tematized and undertaken in a busine-ss way. Appoint a committee of 

 your own body to visit the State Board of Agriculture, and then invite 

 to your councils representatives of the press and of the legislature, and 

 give to that body full power to act in such matters as concern the tn- 

 terests of horticulture before the legislature, with a view to obtaining 

 tlie relief which the necessities of the occasion and the times require. 

 Is there anything impossible in that ? There is most certainly no im- 



