370 BOAKD OF AOKICULTUUE, 



Legislature should be asked to make it a legal measure. The most con- 

 venient size and the one that seems to be in hiuhest favor is the box 9 

 inches deep, 12 inches wide and 20 inches long. These dimensions are 

 easy to remember, and contain 2,100 cubic inches, just a few more cubic 

 inches than the standard bushel measure. 



I present these few suggestions of a practical nature for your consid- 

 eration and action. The range of subjects which properly come before a 

 horticultural society is a very wide one. Everything which relates to the 

 garden, the orchard the vineyard and the forest comes within our view. 

 All of the arts of embellishment which apply to the home, the park, the 

 street or the roadside should get encouragement from us. All private 

 lawns, all public grounds and all school grounds should be the more 

 beautiful for the existence of horticultural societies. Horticulturists can 

 give no more important service to society than that which is done to beau- 

 tify the homes, and thus sweeten the lives of the people. Thus the daily 

 life and practice and teaching of every horticulturist is a perpetual exhor- 

 tation to his neighbors. It is fortunate that the arts of rural beauty 

 win their own way easily with people of all classes who are striving to 

 make homes out of households. These same influences of trees and grass 

 and flowers make their own appeal to almost every natui'e. 



But when we come to the practical side of horticulture, in which 

 most all present are interested— the propagation of trees and plants, prac- 

 tical fruit growing, with its questions of handling and marketing, we 

 enter a field full of diverse opinions, full of unanswered questions, of dis- 

 puted theories, of unsettled methods. It is to bring harmony, so far as 

 may be, out of this chaos of conflicting views, and to shed as much light 

 as we can borrow from scientific research upon the darkness and igno- 

 rance which invest so many of these things, that the main labor of horti- 

 cultural societies must tend. 



The program which outlines the labors of this meeting embraces a 

 varied list of topics that are of general interest, and the success of the 

 meeting now rests with you. 



Mr. Swaim: What disposal do you wish to make of this address? It 

 is now open for discussion. 



Prof. Troop: I move you that this address be referred to a committee. 

 The motion was seconded and carried. 



President Stevens: I will appoint Walter S. Ratliff, J, C. Grossman 

 and Mr. Stout on that committee. The next will be the report of the 

 Secretary. 



Secretary Flick: Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen— I have the 

 honor of making the following report: 



