PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. 203 



and most consummate skill. You have not neglected, in the develop- 

 ment of scientific pomology and horticulture, to attract the artist, whose 

 observant eye is ready to catch the delicacy of color and form that 

 appeals to the finer instincts of the human mind. In the development of 

 the wonderful diversity of beautiful forms in leaves and flowers and 

 fruit; in the superlative success along the lines of coloring given to 

 nature's products through the study and application of her laws of 

 combination, the artist has found his sweetest treasures and has been 

 drawn to 3'Our art with a feeling of kinship. 



Thus, in carrying on the noble work of j^our society you have aroused 

 the sA'mpathies of art, science, and philanthropy. 



While acknowledging and complimenting the worthy efforts o-f your 

 organization, I can not neglect to utter a warning word concerning the 

 danger I see menacing your way. The figures which are used to exhibit 

 the results of your influence in increasing the valuable products from the 

 soil; the vast quantities of fruit shipped away, the product of your 

 skill; the floral treasures that loosen the purse strings of the affluent; 

 the wealth attracted to our state by the commercial success of horticul- 

 tural operations, are all seductive in their character. The tendency is 

 strong to draw you from your high vantage ground and subvert' 3'our 

 strength and influence to the attainment of mere commercial success. 

 I would not in the least minimize the importance of this organization as 

 contributing to the material interests of the people of the commonwealth, 

 but I would emphasize the larger and more important work of this 

 society in sw^eetening and ennobling the influences that are thrown 

 about childhood's home; in harnessing art and science as connected with 

 the growth of the loveliest treasures of earth, to draw men and women 

 into closer communion with nature's processes and lift them into a com- 

 prehension of the most beautiful things of earth; in giving tuition con- 

 cerning the adaptation of lovely forms and tints of vegetation and lus- 

 cious fruits to the building up of dwelling places that shall have a per- 

 manence and restfulness that will be so attractive as to develop a race 

 of home-lovers. 



The grasping hand which sees first the acquirement of wealth, which 

 would command all human energies in the scramble for property, is 

 insidious in its wily methods of securing the influence of the wisest and 

 best in its behalf. It comes in the guise of benevolence, and with 

 specious arguments draws men away from the most noble purposes. 



There are associations, and i)roper, useful ones, whose sole object is to 

 aid men engaged in horticultural pursuits to utilize their energies and 

 their circumstances in achieving commercial success. This is as it should 

 be. But this noble organization should never be diverted from the full 

 recognition of the breadth of its purposes as outlined in the first article 

 of its constitution. 



The influence of your organization that appeals most strongly to our 

 people is that which fosters local organizations interested in the special 

 needs of communities. We have three in our city. The Grand River 

 Valley horticultural society is a direct offspring of the State Horticul- 

 tural society, and has for over twenty years exerted a remarkable influ- 

 ence upon the amateur horticulture of this county. The Grand Rapids 



