360 ANNUAL REPORT. 



gentlemen, would be the appearance of Dakota's 10,000 school 

 houses in twenty years'? And what would be the increase in the 

 value of the same ? Tenfold is a small estimate, as in that time 

 the winter's fuel could be cut in a stone's throw of the house. 

 Birds would come and sing and build their nests in the branches, 

 while the little ones could play in the shade and listen to their 

 songs. What more fitting companions could they have in their 

 innocent days! It would make lasting impressions on their 

 minds. Now, allow me, though I am tresj)assing on your time, 

 to duplicate the foregoing for the farmer's home which should 

 be made, as before stated, attractive and comfortable. Substitute 

 fruit trees and evergreens for at least part of the shade trees. 

 Give the children fruit trees to plant and care for them as their 

 own. While they are doing it they are learning to work, and 

 have a better chance to breathe God's pure air than any indoors 

 employment can give. There is plenty of room in the garden, 

 the yard, or the orchard. What, I ask, would give you greater 

 pleasure after the weary toil of the farm than to have the chil- 

 dren come to you in the spring time and take you by the hand 

 and say, ' ' Oh pa, do come and see the beautiful blossoms on my 

 apple tree?" Or in the fall have them place the beautiful ripe 

 fruit in your hands and say, "these grew on my tree; ain't they 

 nicef" Ah, it would give you a thrill of delight in your tired 

 moments that you little dream of ! If this was followed uj) they 

 would want to learn to bud and graft, to show fruit at the fairs 

 and attend horticultural meetings and exhibitions; and ere long 

 reform schools and jails .s ould be almost useless; and saloons, 

 those nurseries of crime in this new country, would be less 

 patronized than they now are. Tramps, if you have any, will 

 have to be imported. And, as I asked in the preceding case, 

 what would be the appearance of Dakota's 100,000 farms and 

 homes in twenty years 1 I leave it for you to consider and 

 answer. The railroads of the West have done well. They, with 

 few exceptions, have always been ready and willing to carry the 

 horticulturists and tree planters to and from the conventions at 

 reduced rates. They have also in many cases transported fruit 

 and forest trees at very low rates of freight for actual settlers on 

 the lines of their road. But they need to do more. They should 

 furnish a hand on each section in spring and summer to plant 

 and care for trees, and have an experienced man employed on 

 each division to take charge of the same, selecting trees, etc. 

 These continuous groves would be ornamental and useful; they 



