FRUIT FOR THE HOME. 79 



we consider a farm home at all, it must necessarily be coupled 

 with a worn out farm. Go south and we find a worse state 

 of affa^irs, caused largely by poor soil which gives only meager 

 returns. Now, with the best of wishes for our good brethern 

 of the East and South, and their country, with its so-called ad- 

 vantages, yet when we go where we really find thrifty homes 

 and the place to make thrifty homes, and more and better homes, 

 as time rolls on, with a soil that is productive, where do we have 

 to go? We have to go to Nebraska. Now that is no joke. (Ap- 

 plause) We have got a country here that is unsurpassed. I 

 don't say that we have got to be in Nebraska but close enough 

 to be confortable. Got to be in Iowa or some adjoining state. 

 (Voice: Or Hamilton County) Yes we might say so because we. 

 are here. If I lived here I would say so, and I hope every citizen 

 of Hamilton County thinks that, because I believe a good Ameri- 

 can citizen will not stay where he don't like the country. The 

 selection ofhishome can largely be a matter of choice, and should 

 be, and then he will stand up for his country and for his rights. 

 If he does not believe Hamilton County is a good county he will not 

 live in it. I would not live in Nebraska if I did not believe it was 

 the best place for me to live. The country is free and we can grow 

 enough stuff here, and get enough money, to get out of the state 

 We live here as a matter of choice, but the great question beforeus 

 now is the building of the home as it should be built. In that case, 

 we as Horticulturists should take up the fruits for the home. 

 Fully three-fourths of the home and the home attraction consists 

 of the Horticultural surroundings. I fear we underestimate 

 the influence, that these home surroundings have over the little 

 ones, those boys and girls. I venture there isn't a family in 

 this county of half a dozen children, but what they have a chance 

 for at least one good horticulturist among them, and most of 

 them will enjoy the horticultural work during their entire lives, 

 if they have a chance to develop it at the proper time. They 

 should learn it while they are young; while it is natural for them. 

 And if we improve the opportunities we shall surely and easily 

 succeed. We are in one of the best countries of the United 

 States to make a home, a beautiful, thrifty country home. Not ■ 

 a place we call home, but realy a home that we might be proud to 

 take all of our friends to no matter where they came from. We 



