19 



RESPONSE TO THE ADDRESS OF WELCOME 

 By Zenas H. Ellis, Fair Haven, Vt. 



It certainly is a great and signal honor to be invited and welcomed 

 with such courteous and heartfelt words and phrases to this beautiful 

 and productive country of yours, known as the Eastern Shore of Dela- 

 ware, iMaryland and Virginia. Delaware, though small in area, always 

 looms up the first and largest of all in every gathering and proces- 

 sion of the states, as she it was who laid, yes, even herself formed, 

 the corner stone of this our glorious union. "Maryland, My Mary- 

 land," is a state ever noted for her impartiality and justice to all and 

 most entitled to pose as the goddess thereof, even with unbandaged 

 eyes. And old Virginia was the mother of our first and best president 

 of ,ill time, past, present and future — George Washington, as Vermont 

 is of the present one, whose good and sterling qualities are known to 

 you all, Calvin Coolidge. 



Indeed, taken all together, you are a land of plenty, happiness and 

 contentment, the land of fair women and brave men. The first any 

 one will testify to, to the latter I myself, as you produced the brave 

 sailor Commodore McDonough, who, with every odds against him, pre- 

 served inviolate the lake which laves the shore of my native state, 

 Vermont. 



Every thing around here betokens abundance and fruitfulness. 

 Your location is such that you enjoy the products of both the temperate 

 zones. You have communication by rail with every part of our country, 

 and by water to all parts of the world. 



To no better place have we, nor could we. The Northern Nut Grow- 

 ers, come. You have much to show us in our line of work, and we trust 

 we have something to tell you that will interest and instruct you as a 

 slight recompense for your hospitality, which has always been pro- 

 verbial. 



I will take but a little more of your valuable time. It can be better 

 used by those who come after me on the program, some from your own 

 midst and others miles away, but all noted for their interest, zeal and 

 experience in this, the greatest and most important question and prob- 

 lem of our time, NUT CULTURE. 



