2G Aiiuricctu Ilortk-uUnnd Sjcicfij. 



H. E. Van Dcman, Kansas ; G. W. Stoiicr, Louisiana ; J. C, Phiinb, 

 Wisconsin; W. Il.Casstll, Di-. II. E. McKay, Mississippi ; J. S. 

 Collins, William Pari-v, John Parry, New Jersey; L. A. Goodman, 

 W. G. Gano, Z. S. Kagan, Missonri ; C. M. Hobbs, Indiana; I. 

 Wilcox, W. II. Jcssnp, W. G. Klee, California; J. V. Roe, Wis- 

 consin; C. M. Morwin, Tennessee; Charles Gibb, Abbotsford, 

 Quebec ; Franklin Davis, Maryland ; George W. Endicott, Illinois; 

 George H. A^'right, Iowa; J. B. Dnrand, W. Folck, Missonri; I). 

 G. Feely, California; T. S. Gold, Connecticut; Dr. Jewett, Ohio; 

 C. L. Watrons, Iowa; Dr. Charles Mohr, Mobile; W.M.Samuels, 

 Kentucky; II. B. Francis, ^Missouri. 



A brief interval was allowed for the reception of members' dues, 

 after which President Earle proceeded to read his annual address, as 



follows: 



PEESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS. 



Ladies akd Gentlemen : We assemble for tliis our sixth annual meet- 

 ing of the Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society under circumstances 

 both encouraging and trying. A year ago we undertook, at the request of 

 the management of the World's Exposition, the laborious and unprecedented 

 task of organizing and presenting to the view and study of the multitudes 

 who will gather at this great World's Exposition of Industry, Science and 

 Art, an exhibit of the horticultoral products of many countries and of all 

 climates. This was a work wliich had not been undertaken before in any 

 country, and involved difficulties such as surround no other department of 

 a groat exhibition. 



It was the purpose and the ambition of the ollicers of this Society to do a 

 work which would give much pleasure and lasting benefit to the entire 

 horticultural world. We li()i)0(l to do something which would distinguif-h 

 this Society and this Exposition, and constitute a mnmorahle event in the 

 history of the world's horticulture. We desired to bring together in this 

 Exposition Park, in this metropolitan city of the South, on the borders of 

 the Mexican Gulf, illustrations of the resources of the leading countries of 

 the earth in garden and vineyard, in orchard and forest. We desired to 

 give a large opportunity to study the enects of climate and soil, of latitude 

 and longitude and altitude, in the modilication of plant and tree growths, 

 and upon the size, form, texture, quality, durability and beauty of the fruits 

 of the world. 



All of you who have undertaken to do this kind of work within the 

 limits of a single State, and still more tho.se of you who have helped to 

 create some of our national exhibitions, wdl be prepared to appreciate 

 something of the magnitude of the work which this Society set for itself to 



