HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 335- 



pation, their very surroundings and mode of life made them de- 

 pendent upon each other, aside from any consideration of for- 

 tune, luck or educational advantages. We here mark the second 

 period in the progress and development of the country, and in 

 its civilization from the time of the semi-barbarous cowboy to 

 the rough hospitality of the miner in his camp. Like a pan- 

 orama, the scene has again changed; the large herds of cattle 

 have disappeared from the plains, and the miners have mostly 

 forsaken their camps; the plowshare is now turning its long fur- 

 rows, and wheatfields almost beyond limit have taken the 

 place of those pasture lands to the extent that their products 

 have ruled the markets of the world. But now comes another 

 change in the scene before us; the wheatfields are giving place 

 to the orchard. 



There is nothing small about California. Our friend Jordan 

 used to tell how many thousand fruit trees he had in his orchard, 

 but some of the orchards in California have as many acres planted 

 out as Jordan ever had of trees. I can not make a comparison 

 of the capability of fruit growing in that country here, without 

 showing the disadvantages we possess, from the fact that the 

 very fruits they grow to the greatest perfection and profit we 

 can not grow at all. 



Then what have we to do with this matter, anyway"? Much, 

 my brother; do not forget that this Society is a small branch of 

 that great river, that leads to the market ocean of the world. 

 Our discussions should not be confined to a narrow channel, but 

 give us all the advantages we may be able to draw from the ex- 

 perience of others as well as ourselves. While we can not grow 

 pears and j)lums for one dollar and twenty-five cents per one 

 one hundred pounds, or grapes for fifteen dollars per ton or make 

 wine for twenty cents per gallon as is done in California, we grow 

 many kinds of fruit with fair success and small fruits in great 

 abundance and get good prices; we are less troubled with insects 

 than our neighbors over the hill and do not have to depend upon 

 irrigation for our crops. 



In the discussions at the horticultural meetings at San Jose 

 the fact was brought, out that the nearer to their northern 

 limits fruits were grown the more perfect the specimens were 

 found to be, and it was not a matter of surprise that Minnesota 

 should be awarded first premiums on her fruits at our great 

 national exhibitions. 



There are some things which at first sight may seem remote 



