362 BOARB OP AGRICULTURE. 



t 



• And surely we ought to be happy on our farms, for they are giving us 

 our living. 



Mr. Flick: I would like to emphasize one point that Mr. Hale has 

 brought out, that of loving the things with which you work. We are all 

 acquainted with a gentleman who has been here today, who formerly 

 had a little farm north of the city. We, who know him, all remember 

 the magnificent quinces he raised there, the largest that have ever been 

 shown in our State. I could not begin to raise such fruit as he did. At 

 one time I thought I would find out the secret of his success by paying 

 him a visit and seeing how he cared for his fruit. I went out there, aiid 

 as I approached his place I looked over the fence and saw him at work. 

 His trees and bushes Avere loaded with fruit, and as he went through the 

 rows, I could almost fancy that he was talking to them and saying: "You 

 have done well this year; you have beautiful fruit." He looked like a 

 man among his children. He loved every plant and tree and bush on 

 that plot of gi-ound, and, in consequence, he gave them the best care and 

 attention that he could. You have all seen the effects of his work. We 

 ought to love our work, for unless we do we will not have much suc- 

 cess. I have trees growing in my orchard that, when I see how grandly 

 they have responded to my care, I feel like patting and caressing them. 

 I don't know whether I hold communion with them, but there certainly is 

 a feeling of close interest between myself and the trees. The trees bear 

 beautiful fruit; I admire beautiful fruit and the tree which produces it, 

 and I like to pnt it in nice packages. I often regret to see it go, but I 

 need the money it brings. I believe we ought to get more enjoyment 

 than we do out of our work, and I believe we can do this if we look at 

 the matter right. 



Mr. Hale: I think our Secretary is right when he says he communes 

 with his fruit trees. We can not but know that there is a soul-life there, 

 or something there that we are a part of and that they ai-e a part of, 

 and that all are parts of a great whole. 



President Stevens: We are under great obligations for Mr. Hale's 

 talk tonight. The next topic on our program is "Women in Floriculture 

 and Horticulture," by Mrs. Sylvester Johnson. 



