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and willing to expand the Journal's columns as will be required, of 

 course, by the expansion of nut culture — I beheve I voice the gen- 

 eral sentiment of our membership when I say that no more welcome 

 messenger comes to us each month than the American Nut Journal. 



Another recommendation I am going to offer is, that the asso- 

 ciation consider the advisability of establishing a nursery at a point 

 agreed on as best adapted for the propagating and nursing of such 

 nut trees and bushes as it endorses as suitable and desirable for the 

 area of country naturally governing the origin of our title — - North- 

 ern Nut Growers' Association. This recommendation germinated in 

 my thought from a casual remark made to me recently by our 

 esteemed member, Mrs. W. D. Ellwanger, while I was a visitor at 

 her charming summer home, Brooks Grove. Viewing her nursery 

 of several thousand black walnut seedlings she casually mentioned 

 that she would be very happy to present to any one desirous of plant- 

 ing such trees any consistent number he or she desired. As my 

 thought dwelt on the expression of such a splendidly magnanimous 

 nature I began to wonder, if a lady was willing to perform such a 

 noble act, why should not the association elaborate on the worthy 

 plan along the lines I have suggested. And with more members, and, 

 thereby, more money, we can do it. Then The Northern Nut Grow- 

 ers' Association will be doing a real thing, something tangible, some- 

 thing that will attract new members in a way nothing else would, 

 because people would then be able to see the living evidence of the 

 practicability of our ideals. We could start in a small way, and 

 grow. After long and earnest thought on the subject I came to the 

 conclusion that it was worthy of our consideration. 



From Mrs. Ellwanger's reference to "Johnny Appleseed" I be- 

 lieve that she found precedent for her nut tree nursery initiative in 

 the work of inestimable value to posterity done by that same worthy. 

 If the legend be true, he worked with much happiness of heart, but 

 not more so than that of Mrs. Ellwanger, I am sure you will agree, 

 when I tell you that many of her nursery trees are growing from 

 nuts she garnered from roadside and field trees manifesting some 

 exceptional trait, or indicating rare strain. 



And I cannot refrain from urging action to the end of influenc- 

 ing our other states to pattern after good old Michigan in our effort 

 to enact legislation, as she has done, providing for planting our road- 

 sides with nut-bearing trees. It is something tangible, like this, that 

 really counts. I believe that it is a fundamental of life, and living, 

 that precedent, pro or con, is invaluable as governing subsequent 

 action along similar lines. Here we have, in Michigan's action, a 

 most worthy precedent, and I can think of no good reason why OUR 

 other states should not do likewise. And I believe that this associa- 

 tion, functioning efficiently, can exert the necessary influence to bring 

 about a similar condition in OUR other states. My emphasis of the 

 word OUR means The Northern Nut Growers' Association's states, 

 you know. 



