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concern. They challenge our attention without regard to whether 

 they are running wild or growing wild. The attendance at this con- 

 ference in itself guarantees the dignity and economic importance of 

 your general theme. Indeed, it is not often that we are able to con- 

 vene in one room a group of men, many of whom are not only nationally 

 but internationally known. I note with much pleasure the attendance 

 of Dr. J. Russell Smith, one of the greatest living authorities on 

 Economic Geography. I am sure tliat when he has spoken on the gen- 

 eral theme of Nut Trees Suitable to the- Chesapeake Country, we will 

 have had the final word upon the subject. Dr. Cory, Maryland State 

 Entomologist, Willard Bixby of New York, C. A. Reed of the Bureau 

 of Plant Industry, Washington, Dr. Robert T. Morris of New York, J. 

 F. Jones of Lancaster, Conrad Vollertsen, and last but not least Dr. 

 E. C. Auchter of the University of Maryland, are all men whose con- 

 tributions would dignify any conference. I therefore feel that this 

 gathering is a real event in the economic life of our Peninsula. It is 

 an event because it heralds our growing appreciation of the scientist 

 and the value of the research activities for which he is responsible. 



It is one of the ironies of our times that while agriculturists and 

 horticulturists are as deeply indebted to the scientists as are the mem- 

 bers of any other calling or profession, agriculture is the one occupa- 

 tion in which pure science is apparently held in the least regard. In 

 manufacture the practical operator recognizes the value of scientific 

 formulas. Far seeing men are appropriating not only thousands but 

 millions of dollars to the support of industrial research. The growers 

 of our commercial crops, however, are still largely inclined to proceed 

 by rule of thumb methods, operating on a trial and error basis, thereby 

 undoubtedly adding very materially to the cost of overhead. 



Of course we are, through various governments and state growers, 

 and our colleges and universities, conducting horticultural and agri- 

 cultural research activities of great value. However, pure science is 

 still regarded with suspicion in many rural circles. 



I, of course, have no notion concerning the nut producing possibili- 

 ties of the Peninsula. Indeed, I presume that is what we are here to 

 find out. I realize, as Dr. Smith has pointed out, that we Americans 

 do not take the tree crops seriously. We overlook the fact almost 

 entirely that nuts are food. Indeed, our attitude toward these tree 



