Nebraska advertiser., 1880-02-05
NEBRASKA STATE HORTICUL-
TURAL SOCIETY.
Annual Address by the President,
RObt. w. Furnas.
Lincoln. January %, 1850.

me to extend congratulations to each
one of you. on both your personal
welfare and the prosperity and prog
ress of our organization.
Through our agricultural organize
tons much has been done for the
State. Much more remains to be
done. The Importance attaching to
the inseparable co-workiug organiza-
tions. State Board of Agriculture and /
State Horticultural Society. now in
session iD this city, cannot we'll be
ever-estimated. AS a proof of the |
importance of the farming GLASS;. in |
both State and National economy.
mention is made of the fact that all
estimates of prosperity, or misfor-
tune are based on it. The country
fingered under prostration and stag
nation. We are told il is-reviving-
has in fact, recuperated-and as a
proof, are pointed to the crops. Crops
are the basis of alfcheerful prediction;
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 is full. "Stacks of unstable
pig-iron, mountains of unstable coal,
and gluts of man ufactures, are signs
of suffering rather than comfort,
for they tell of over-production, d.
mihished consumption, paralysed in
dustry, idle and hungry people.
Stacks of harvested crops, have 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 strain on the
very props of society. Statesmen,
publicists, fnaneiers, economists and
refoxmers, in their espousal of the
more eiamorous and demonstrative
classes, forget that 1t is the product of
the farmer Sthat maintains cities,
makes commerce, sustains manufac-
ture and gives employment. Farmers
do not ask special favors from the
hands of powers that be, only ex-
emption from the effects of special ia
vors granted other classes.
We begin the new year with many
new features-in, fact almost every
thing in our favor. Crops were never
better. With many products so with
prices. Farmers have been steadily
improving for several 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 OBJ
iect being to arouse members, to full
sense of the duties, devolving upon
them in the particular capacity in
which we are'at@present engaged.
Thus far in its existence, this or
ganization hasldireoted'its labGFs, and
confined it's efforts principally in
demonstrating that fruits can be
grown in Nebraska. That, under
take to say, has been accomplished to
the satisfaction, even of the most in
ereduIous. The next important mat
ter for conside ration Is: ''IDiu 1t l1dy?"
That too, has, heretofore. been strong
ly 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-
Arm in this respect, l here present.
have no reliable data upon which
to base even an approximate estimate
of the fruit crop of our owniState for
the year 1879. 1t was, however, in
common parlance, the "off year." and
the crop in all respects short. The
fruit exhibit at State Fair in Septem-
bemter last, while not so large and
varied, as on many similar occasions
before, was good-higbly 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,
saws the Com NJ issioDeF of Agricul-
ture. is almost beyond computation.
and the vine product not less pienti-
full. The demand for fruit IN the
markets, at home and abroad, mas
been equal to, and increasing with
the supply. Prices. generally, nave
been remunerative, both to grower
and dealer, and yet low enough to be
within reach of all. The daily use OF
fruit as food by our people increases.
1t cannot longer be considered merely
a luxury. The apple more particular
Iv. whether cooked, or otherwise, is
most Observation-Disclosures.
The increase of the apple product I