528 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



sending them to school to con lessons from books. It seems to me we can make even 

 more of our society in this direction than we have done. 



The man who makes his thousands in a single deal in real estate, who has added 

 nothing intrinsically to the value of the land, may, because of his dollars, cut a wide 

 swath in the community; but I count of far greater value to the world one who, 

 through study of nature's possibilities, brings out an added flower or fruit of value to 

 mankind; and while dealers in stocks and bonds and lumber and land may laugh in 

 derision at our enthusiasm over a new peach that fills a place in the succession of fruits, 

 or a new chrysanthemum with added attractions of form or color, we can in our ecstacy 

 sorrow a little that so few of the people in this world know how to get the highest 

 pleasure out of life by living near to nature's heart. 



There is a wonderful field for improvement in the objects with which we deal, and 

 the more we add to our knowledge of the things that lie nearest to us, the wider will 

 open before us the door to the wealth of information, the acquirement of which will 

 give to us the keenest delight. 



I have felt at times that our society might have done more for the material assistance of 

 its membership by uniting in purchases and in advertising to the world the array of prod- 

 ucts we successfully grew for market in our vicinity. But now that the Grand Rapids 

 Fruit Growers' association has been so successful in this class of work, we can safely 

 leave these matters to an organization devoted wholly to to the commercial side of 

 horticulture, and give it our hearty support. 



I suggest that our executive committee continue its efforts to secure proper recogni- 

 tion of our own and kindred organizations in the assignment of rooms in our new 

 county building. While the strength of our organization lies in our method of meet- 

 ing at the rural homes of our members, still, occasionally a gathering or an exhibit 

 may be arranged with special reference to our city friends, in some building belonging 

 to the people. 



The objects of our society are such, it seems to me, as to attract to its membership 

 ladies and gentlemen who live in the city. The accompaniments of a home which ren- 

 der it attractive, and which a knowledge of horticulture aids in securing, are numerous 

 and of the highest significance. I wish this field of our work could be made more 

 prominent, and thus attract to our meetings people who could bring to us delightful 

 suggestions on the embellishment of our homes. It is not. what we purchase, or what 

 we secure from the aid of experts, in bringing horticultural attractions about our 

 premises, that give us the keenest enjoyment. It is what we do ourselves. The sug- 

 gestions we get from others, that we can utilize at our own homes, and that we are 

 enabled to adapt to our own conditions, are the ones that arouse our enthusiasm and 

 enhance the value of existence. May we not with reason widen our sphere of useful- 

 ness by increasing our membership from among those whose interest in horticulture 

 is confined to the securing of added attractions to their own premises, even though 

 their domain for this purpose may be limited to a single city lot and a bow window. 



For twelve years you have seen fit to continue me as president of this society, and I 

 have been more proud of the honor than of any position I have ever held; and in retiring 

 from the position I assure you that I shall not divorce myself from the councils of the 

 organization or lose one whit of my interest in its w T ork. My home is open for you to 

 enter at will with your meetings, and the families at Burton farm will expect, at least 

 once in each year, to great the members of the society in a monthly meeting. Ths aim 

 of our household is not to gather in the margius from successful horticultual ventures, 

 but by experiment, example and suggestion to stimulate in ourselves and others a 

 keener interest in the methods and objects with which horticulture deals, and which 

 add to the pleasure of living in this world, not forgetting that the highest appreciation 

 of nature's possibilities is. in itself, a love of the Power that governs them. 



Burton Farm, Grand Rapids, Mich., Dec. 22, 1801. 



This address was accepted and ordered engrossed upon the records and 

 a vote of thanks tendered to the retiring president, with many expressions 

 of regret that he insisted upon retiring. 



The election of officers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with, 

 and resulted as follows: President. Joseph A. Pearce; vice-president,. 

 William N. Cook of Grand Rapids: secretary, Thomas L. Brown of 

 Grandville: treasurer, E. Chase Phillips of Grand Eapids: executive- 

 board, in addition to the officers ex officio, C. W. Garfield, Sluman S. 

 Bailey. Asa W. Slayton. and Thomas \Yilpe. 



