THE ANNUAL MEETING. 235 



■which keeps in closcsfc sympathy and liarmony the family, tlic church and 

 State. 



It is the motive power which prompts the commerce of the world and 

 tlie golden cluiin which binds together all beneficial compacts and organiza- 

 tions everywhere. It has brought us here on this occ;ision from our several 

 homes, and wiien we go back to our own firesides may we feel that this bond is all 

 the stronger for our luiving met once more. 



There is a sense in which all human beings are more or less dependent upon 

 each other, and when we hear a man say he **asks no odds of anybody" we 

 have only to remind him that he is under the greatest obligations for the com- 

 monest necessaries of life. Not only to ^'Ilirn wlio keeps us day by day" but 

 to the humble laborer, to the care-worn producer, to the ingenious artisan 

 and also to the commercial trader who anticipating our wants, gives us that 

 which will help to sustain life and make us comfortable in excluinge for that 

 which we do not so much need, and the sooner we recognize the fact that we 

 are thus dependent upon each other, the more fully sliall we be able to accom- 

 plish the duties of life, sustain its burdens, and enjoy its benefits. There are 

 some occupations tliat are peculiarly allied to eacli other, and in fact one can- 

 not well exist without the other; and especially is this true of the 'Miursery- 

 man and fruit-grower." If there were no young trees, vines or 2)lants propa- 

 gated, there could be no bearing orcliards, vineyards, small fruit or iiower 

 gardens. If there were no demand for the luscious fruit so beautiful to the 

 eye, so grateful to the taste, and so conducive to the health, or for the 

 ** thousand flowers" with their sweetest perfume and charming tints, no 

 trees, vines or plants would be wanted. But so long as the demand for these 

 products far exceeds the supply we apprehend tliat there is no limit to a well- 

 conducted business in either of these occupations. But some are ready to say 

 "let the orchardist raise his own trees and plants and then he will know what 

 he has got." Not always ! 



I have only to call to mind that a few years ago as I was in market witli a 

 choice load of Smock peaches, a quite extensive peach-grower came along and 

 remarked that *' they were very fine Late Crawfords," and I presume that if I 

 had been inexperienced and just starting a nursery and had gone to that man's 

 orchard for some *'Late Crawford" buds, I might have got "Smocks." 



Now, what I wish to say is this : That I am confident that the observing 

 and careful fruit-grower who has his business well and thoroughly systematized 

 can be of great service to the nurseryman in giving him information as to what 

 sorts do best, and the most probable demand ; and I think, perchance, the nurs- 

 eryman may be of some help to the new planter, even in the selection of varieties. 

 It has come to be a pretty well settled fact tliat where parties in any branch of 

 business will give tlieir undivided attention to specialties tiie more perfectly will 

 they develop their productions and the greater will be their profits; and he 

 "who embarks in any enterprise and allows any outside speculation to divert his 

 mind or his means will in the end be a loser. Therefore, I say, that while 

 nurserymen and fruit-growers are mutually dependent upon each other, their 

 occupations are quite dilferent, and they can serve each other and themselves 

 much better by each looking well after his own specialty. 



With some exceptions, the nurseryman can propagate one variety as well as 

 another, but the great difficulty is in anticipating the demand. For instance, 

 if one sort does remarkably well this season, and we propagate extensively of ifc 

 in anticipation of a probable want, perhaps by the time the trees are ready for 



