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Pres. AVeber read letter from Dr. W. A. Taylor, Chief of Bureau 

 of Plant Industry: 



Washington, D. C, September 16, 1925. 

 Mr. Harry R. Weber, 



President, Northern Nut Growers Association, 

 Hotel Statler, St. Louis, Missouri. 



Dear Mr. Weber: 



Mr. C A. Reed of this Bureau has strongly urged me to attend 

 your annual meeting to be held in St. Louis September 22 to 24, in- 

 clusive. However, I am unable to accept this invitation, as important 

 matters necessitate my attention here just at this time. 



May I take this occasion, however, to commend the Association for 

 the high quality of research work that has been conducted by several 

 of its lay members during recent years. The investigations in the 

 science of asexual propagation by Dr. Morris, Mr. Jones, and others, 

 liave resulted in definite and important contributions to our fund of 

 horticultural knowledge. The work of Mr. Bixby and many others 

 in search of new varieties has been of high order, as have been the 

 writings of others of your members, particularly Doctors Morris and 

 Deming and Mr. Littlepage. 



Permit me to assure you of my appreciation of the support given 

 the project of nut culture under the immediate direction of Mr. Reed 

 in our Office of Horticultural Investigations. As you may know, the 

 Department has recently established a very complete collection of 

 northern species and varieties on the experimental grounds at Ar- 

 lington Farm on the Virginia side of the Potomac, directly opposite 

 Washington. With supplemental plantings of such new varieties as 

 may appear in the future, this collection should make a valuable asset 

 to tlie whole northern nut industry. It will be particularly useful in 

 varietal studies and breeding work, as well as in connection with 

 other studies. 



In conclusion may I assure you of the interest of those in this 

 Bureau who nre directly connected with the work your association is 

 doing. Please accept my assurance of continued co-operation on the 

 part of the Bureau staff" and my personal regards to those of your 

 members whom I have the pleasure of knowing personally. 



Very truly yours, 



WM. A. TAYLOR, 



Chief of Bureau. 



