Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-12-07

Meeting Of South
western Iowa
Horticultural
Society.
Forty years ago a number of
earnest men and women in
Iowa who believed that horti-
culture is one of the most en-
obling occupations of mankind
and that the pursuit of it tends
to the upbuilding and better
ment of men, women and chill.
dren, met and organized a
society which was called the
Iowa State Horticultural Soci-
city, the object of which was
the promotion and encourage
ment of horticulture and arbor-
iculture by dissemination of
correct information concerning
the cultivation of such fruits,
flowers and trees as are adapt
ed to the soil and climate of
Iowa.
There are now four societies
in Iowa auxiliary to the state
society. The Southwestern
society, to which Missouri Val
ley this week extends a well
coming hand, was organized in
1874 and comprises twenty
three counties. Through this
society, more than any other
agency, a wonderful change
has taken place upon the face
of the country. Instead of the
treeless prairie we have homes
surrounded by trees, fruits and
flowers, gardening has become
a fine art, and orchardry is no
longer experimental. Progress
is the watchword of the age
and the horticultural society
has never been in the rear of
the procession. At present the
society is in a very flourishing
condition and includes in its
membership about ninety of
the most thoroughly energetic
and wideawake citizens of
southwestern Iowa.
Morning Session, December 6.
Session opened at 10 o'clock
after an hour had been spent
in exchange of greeting among
the members Of the society.
President C. H. Deur called
the meeting to order. Mr.. Van
Houten, of Lannox, who was a
charter member of the original
society, was appointed secre-
tary in place of Mr.. Bomberg-
er, who was detained at home
by a serious accident.
j. P. Hess read a very able
paper upon "The Business Side
of Horticulture" in which he
represented the advantages of
fruit growers forming them
selves into a shipping associa.
ton, thereby enabling the
grower to prepare a market in
advance. This proposition
brought out a lively discussion
in favor of growing for local
market as a business PROPOSE
ton. Mr.. Hess concluded by
saying there can be no better
investment than in a small fruit
farm we'll cultivated. This
statement was substantiated
by numerous instances cit.d
from actual experience. The
discussion along this line was
practical and statements were
we'll sustained by statistics.
M. K. thinner in speaking of
"Cut Flowers and Their Uses
advanced the idea that all hor-
ticulturists should be floricul-
turists. Mr.. thinner in his
paper gave some beautiful sug-
gestions in regard to the ap-
propriate use of flowers. He
urged that the beauty of the
sentiment of flowers should not
be destroyed by the misuse of
them or the utter disregard to
display of taste in combination
of colors or odors. The senti-
ment expressed by the flowers
should be studied in presenta-
ton of the gift.
Aftcrnoon Session.
The afternoon session opened
promptly. The attendance was
very good. Among those pres
ent from abroad was H. A. Bo-
hum, a venerable gentleman
who for forty wears has shown