Biennial Report

new woman may walk side by side through life fulfilling the divine law of justice. But not to the farmer alone is the opportunity given to see nature in her beauty. The miner underground sees in beds of coal and silver and gold stored away the handiwork of nature. The carpenter sees in the various woods a variety of colors and designs of wonder and beauty. Nature teaches us that "God is love." We see manifestations no where more than in the flowers, which Wilberforce calls "the smiles of God's goodness." Why did the Creator of the Universe give these beauties if not to brighten our lives and make us happy? "God might have made the earth bring forth enough for great and small, the oak-tree and the cedar-tree, and not a flower at all.” Can we not plainly see love for His children in these delicately-painted beauties? Can we look upon a flower and enjoy its "scented breath" and not call to remembrance the wisdom and majesty of God? I see and feel and hear the message of divine love say, "God is love," "God is love." Even the untutored mind of the Indian sees God in nature. Shall we do less? Nature teaches us that the principle of evolution is not only a theory but a fact. I do not mean the evolution of man from a lower order; of this I am uncertain. Scientific investigation reveals to us facts new to our understanding which have existed for ages. But recently we have learned the value of electricity; it is not new, and who knows but we may in time control the moisture in the atmosphere, and water the earth to suit our needs. If we can control the lightning, why not the clouds above us and the water beneath us? God created every thing for our good, but we learn slow how to utilize these gifts to His glory and our material welfare.

The world is in a state of constant development from lower to higher forms of existence; from a human standpoint it seems to stand still, because of human ignorance or depravity. Bryant portrays the principle of evolution when he speaks of the creation as "being finished yet renewed forever." To the infinite it was finished in the beginning; to the finite it is renewed day by day through all time. He who looks into nature's hidden motives will be constantly making discoveries, which are not new to their Creator. We are taught that nature was perfect in Eden, and because of sin, thorns and thistles grew, and fruits and flowers degenerated. We know they came to us imperfect, and our duty, our pleasure, our opportunity is to restore their lost beauty and perfection. In the beginning everything was created. Professor Lyndall says he finds no proof of spontaneous production of even microscopic life, but much proof to the contrary; we believe his theory correct. The new discoveries in plant life are due to the development of germs, which always existed, and which, under favorable conditions, by nature's laws have evolved into their present state. The horticulturalist delights to study these conditions, as they are a pleasant accompaniment to hard work. The Kansas State Horticultural Society has done much to restore the earth to its Edenic beauty. In studying these things we call up other forces in nature which have brought about a unity of thoughts, a realization of ideas that evolved many of these thoughts. As a result we have organizations and institutions that a quarter of a century ago were practically unknown. The temperance congress, the prison congress, the peace congress, all tending to lift humanity to a higher plane, declare the certainty of evolution, or, in other words, "the world do move." Not only from the wonders on the earth do we get our lessons of the Creator, but "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork." Thus God shows His love for His children, regardless of class or nationality, and no combine can exclude anyone from the

enjoyment of the glories of the firmament, though men, women and children are shut up in tenement houses in large cities where they seldom see the sun or get pure air. But God is ever watching above His own. In His own good time all things will be righted. Nature teaches us the certainty of a future life. As we look upon the face of nature to-day we see desolation, the ground brown and bare, the trees stripped of their beauty. We saw the leaves that graced them a few short months ago fade and die and fall to the ground, where they are fast returning to earth, but we know that mother Nature will restore their beauty at the appointed time. In a few short months we shall behold them clothed in new beauty, the same as before, yet not the same. They will be renewed, there will be a resurrection, and all nature will become new. So of our bodies; in the process of nature they will return to dust, but in God's own time they too shall be clothed in new beauty; and as the leafmould helps furnish vegetation and make it vigorous, so may the dust of our bodies assist in the resurrection of a purer, better life. But some may say, while vegetation was apparently deprived of life, there was concealed a germ needing only the appointed time and the warm rays of the sun to give it new life, and that part of it had lost entirely the life-given element, and would not again put forth bud or blossom. True, but the soul is of a higher order, containing a germ that cannot die because a part of God himself. Christ has said, "As I live, ye shall live also." One of the poets puts this thought so beautifully in "The Resurrection of Nature:"

See God touch Nature, on her bier,

Low-lying, gray, and cold and still: "Back from the dead!" He cries to her, And lo! her pulses throb and thrill!

The miracle is wrought; the dead

Stands on her living feet once more;
God wraps the grave-bands in their place,
And leads her forth from the tomb-door.

Behold her! Nature bidden back

To life again by God's great voice;
Behold her new and wondrous youth,

And seeing her, oh, hearts rejoice!

See the earth make a tuneful feast,

And spread for her a welcome board;
And sitting in the honored seat,

He who brought life to her-the Lord!

Like Mary, with her precious nard,

One guest from the dim woods is there,

Pouring from out her opal flask

Sweet perfume on the amber air.

Come to the thankful feast, oh, hearts!

Come to the feast, spread wide and broad:

Join with winds, the birds, the flowers,

To welcome Nature and her God.

Frank Holsinger, jr., was called for to give his experience in Japan. Mr. Holsinger, jr.: I was in Japan in the spring; there were few flowers to be seen, but the plum- and cherry-blooms came out then. Those of you who were here last night heard Professor Georgeson speak of them. The plum- and cherry-blooms are prized. While in Tokio I went to a place called Wans at the time these blooms were out. We came to a large pro

cession, There must have been two or three, dozen children, and they had branches in their hands and a banner. It was a procession in honor of the plum- and cherry-blooms, and wherever there was a cherry-tree you would see the Japanese around with baskets of dinner, to stay all day and gaze at the blooms. All along the roads I have found the Japanese watching the blooms. The cherry does not fruit, but is held sacred. The plum does fruit. All over Japan are flowers in great variety. Nowhere are flowers so highly prized. Few of their flowers have any odor, outside the plum and cherry. Their flowers are very brilliant. I would not take it that they cultivate flowers because they are brilliant. The cherry- and plum-blooms are regarded more as a deity than otherwise. I got to Japan in January, and left the 18th of April. I was at Tokio about the 1st of April. The only fruits I saw were strawberries and persimmons--the strawberries in the spring, and when we were up in the fall I saw persimmons. No fruit in Japan will compare with persimmons. Eaten green it does not pucker the mouth. They like it best green. If you go to a Japanese dinner, they will always set up persimmons that are not ripe. Europeans prefer them ripe. We find persimmons very frequently as large as a good-sized Ben Davis apple. When we were in dry dock a large tree overhung the deck, and there was 5 to 11 bushels of fruit on it. Apples are imported.

Edwin Taylor, Secretary: I am in such a state of transport and emotion over these subjects talked of this afternoon that I doubt where I am. We have been here now nearly three days. Most of that time we have been down under the soil; down among the irrigating ditches and apple-barrels and potatoes. This afternoon we have moved up into the third story of horticulture, and it seems to me it is an agreeable change. The Quakers say we do not live up to our privileges much of the time. If we had thoroughly understood ourselves we would have come up to this third story sooner. I suggest that there be more "ladies' days" on the programme next year.

On motion, it was ordered that the Treasurer be relieved, and the Secretary be requested to present annualy an itemized statement of the expenditures of the state funds.

On motion, the thanks of the Society were tendered to the president and secretary of the Missouri State Horticultural Society for their presence and assistance during the meeting.

On motion, adjourned sine die.