Nebraska advertiser., 1880-01-29
NEBRASKkSTATE HORTICUL-
TURAL SOCIETY.
Annual Address by the President,
RObt. w. FHrnas.
Lincoln, January 2s, 1856

y
welfare and the prosperity and prog
ress of our organization.
Through our agricultural organiza-
tions much has been done for the
State. Much more remains to be
done. The Importance attaching to
the indispensable co-working. organiza-
tions, State Board of Agriculture and
State Horticultural Society, now in
session in this city. cannot well be
over-estimated. As proof of the
importance Of the farming class, in
both State and National economy.
mention IS. made of the fact, that all
estimates of prosperity, or misfor-
tune are based on IL. The country
fingered under prostration and stag
naion. We are told it Is reviviDg-|
has i'm fact, recuperated-and as a
proof, are pointed to the crops. Crops
the inspiration of all hopeful enter
prise" Bankers assure us of good
times because of good crops. Nation
al credit improves for the same rea-
son. Resumption became an accom-
plished fact; without difficulty, be-
cause our crops are of the balance of
trade. demanding, gold. Merchants,
manufacturers, and all other classes
whose welfare depends on the general
prosperity. improve in business when
the land il full. Stacks of unsuitable
pig-iron. mountains of unstable coal,
and glnts of manufactures, are signs
of suffering rather than comfort,
for they tell of over-production, d.
minished consumption. paralysed in
- dustry. idle and hungry people.
Stacks of harvested crops, bave diff
ferent Specification. They mean
wealth. business, employment, pros
perIty, comfort" There are lessons
in this, which ought to be needed.
Our prosperity rests on the tiller of
the soil. If he suffers, his pangs will,
sooner, or later, run through the
whole country. An unjust burden
imposed upon him is a strain on the
very props of society. Statesmen,
puhlicists, fihanciers, economists and
reformers, in their espousal of the
more clamorous and demonstrative
classes, forget that 1t is the product of
the farmer that maintains cities,
makes commerce. sustains manufac-
ture and gives employment. Farmers
do not ask special favors from the
hands af "powers that be-" only ex-
emption from the effects of special fa-
vors granted other classes.
We begin the new year with many
new features-in fact almost every
thing i'm our favor. Crops were never
better. With many pnOdncts so.with
prices. Farmers have been steadily
improving Tor severaT years. They
have more comforts and conveniences
about them less debts to harrass, and
better balances In bank.
This opening seeming DEPRESSION is
deemed not out of place, considering
the fact that Agriculture and HOrti-
culture are so closely interviewer as
not to permit separation. The ob-
iect being to arouse membersato full
sense of the duties devolving upon
them in the particular capacity in
which we are atspresent engaged.
Thus far in its existence, this or
panization has directed its labors, and
confined it's efforts principally in
demonstrating that fruits can be
grown in Nebraska. That, under
take to say, has been accomplished to
satisfaction, even of the ost in
credulous. The next important mat
ter for coDsiderationis: '',DiH it 11ny?"
That too, has, heretofore, been strong
. " supported by the testimony of facts
and figures, coming within our own
knowledge. and personal observation.
A few instances, more important and
of greater magnitude. tending to con-
firm In this respect, / here present.
/ have no reliable data upon which
of the frnit crop Of our own State for
the year 1879. Ii was, however, in
common parlsnce, the "off year, and
the crop in all respects short. The
fruit exhibit at State Fair in Septem-
BENT er last, while not so large and
varied, as on many similar occasions
before. was good-bighly creditable.
Specimens were never better.
Statistics and reports, as given by
the last National Agricultural Report.
show the fruit crop of the United
States, as one of the most gratifying
results of the progress of agricul-
ture in the country. The apple crop,
says the Com N issioner of Agricul-
ture, is almost beyond computation.
and the vine product not less plenti-
full. The demand for fruit in the
markets, at home and abroad, has
been equal to. and increasing with
the supply: Prices, generally, have
been remunerative, both to grower
dnu ucdicis duu Sot ~" cbOueh W w
within reach of all. The daily use of
fruit az food by our people increases.
1t cannot longer be considered merely
luxury. The apple more particular
ly, whether cooked, or otherwise, Is
most nutritious and wholesome.
The increase of the apple product
in the United States n the pasFtwen-
~ years. has been over fifty million
dollars. The peach crop for single
year, is now estimated at near sixty
millions dollars; pears over fifteen
billions, and straw berries at over five
nffffoBs, dollars annually. Between
two and three millions acres of land
are in orchards. Four Of the larger
cities In the Union. consumed in one
season, one hundred and eleven thou