158 State Horticultural Society. 



FIKST SESSION— At 8 P. M., Tuesday, December 5, 1899. 



The meeting was called to order by President Murray and Pev. 

 C. W. Coons delivered the opening prayer. 



The K. of P. Cornet Band varied the program with good music 

 during the evening. 



The welcome was presented by Hon. Martin Read. 

 Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 



Owing to some indisposition on the part of the mayor of our 

 little city, I am requested to give you an address of welcome. Pioneers 

 in any country, business or calling are usually the truest, bravest and 

 best of their kind. The pioneers who settled America were the 

 strongest, bravest and best that ever lived in America. Horticulture 

 is repiesented here to-night by its pioneers. Horticulture is probably 

 the most improved branch of agriculture. These gentlemen and ladies 

 are engaged in the pursuit of Horticulture, and you may say they have 

 done it for profit. Yes, and for more than profit ; not only for profit, 

 but for the purpose of developing it, and the resources with which 

 nature has endowed our great country. They have stuck to it, with 

 or without profit. You can honor them as they have honored you. 

 We give them cordial and kindly greeting. These people are here to 

 enlighten you. You can be profited by hearing them. In behalf of 

 the people we extend to you, Mr. President, and all the members, 

 the hospitality of the city. We are glad to have you here, and 

 extend to you every courtesy, a hearty welcome, and a cordial greeting. 



RESPOIsTSE BY PRESIDENT N. F. MURRAY. 



I return our heartfelt thanks for the kindly greeting you have 

 given us. We thank the Mercer County Horticultural Society for its 

 kind invitation to hold our forty-second annual meeting in your city. 

 Only two years ago I was here to organize the Mercer County Horti- 

 cultural Society. That work has been a grand success. The display 

 at your county fair, at this meeting, and these fruits show that it ]5ays 

 to have a horticultural societv in vour midst. Our state society has 



