114 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



proud of it ou that account." There were now nearly 1,000,000 inhabitants 

 and about 140,000 families. The florist's art had contributed much towards 

 beautifying these homes. 



President Thorpe, in his annual address, said that when the society got deeply 

 rooted, he hoped to see one of its branches shaped into an experimental garden, 

 where inventions, appliances, and structures of all kinds could be displayed. 

 This was a branch worthy of the support of men of wealth, and would enable 

 the society to spread, octopus-like, into every town and village in the country. 

 The president advocated the establishment of local exhibitions, controlled by 

 committees appointed by the society, whereat new and desirable plants and 

 flowers could be discussed. He hoped, a^o, to see established on a sound basis, 

 a, mutual benevolent association, for the relief of unfortunate florists. The 

 president said that business, on the whole, had been good during the year, but 

 that the labor troubles had affected it. The demand for good roses was greater 

 than the supply, during June and July. The new roses, "American Beauty," 

 "William F. Bennett," " The Bride," and "Her Majesty," are meeting with 

 great success. The president thought that exhibitions helped to develop the 

 business, and advised the florists to encourage them, in spite of the fact that 

 they might not bring any immediate revenue. 



Mr. Thorpe called attention to the fact that exhibitions of flowers are a chief 

 cause of developing the florist business. 



" Don't be afraid to exhibit. Make exhibitions, join your local societies and 

 bring something. Never mind if you do not happen to secure the first prize. 

 While you are aiming to get first prizes you are doing good to your business 

 and floriculture generally. 



" Exhibitions made our great roses realize the prices that they have. Exhi- 

 bitions made the sale of chrysanthemums for the past two years foot up to a 

 million of plants. So don't go away with the impression that if you do not 

 happen to have a roll of bills to take home with you from each one, that you 

 are the loser. You are sowing the seed, the crop from which will be harvested 

 as it ripens. 



" The raising of new varieties from seed is receiving more attention than for- 

 merly ; but yet, this is not carried out to the extent that it ought to be. I 

 know that it is frequently remarked that we have already too many varieties of 

 plants and flowers, and that the old varieties are good enough. If this doctrine 

 had always been believed, none of the fine varieties of flowers grown to-day 

 would have ever been known. The very best old varieties were once new. 



" In connection with this I wish to say to the young members of our society, 

 select some popular plant for improvement. Begin raising seedlings by judi- 

 cious cross-fertilization and careful selection; then, by patience and persever- 

 ance, the results will be more than satisfactory; furthermore, I can, after long 

 years of experience, promise you one of the most delightful pursuits there is 

 in the world." 



He remarked in conclusion: "We have reason to congratulate ourselves 

 over what the society has accomplished during the year. It will be remem- 

 bered that we had to fight an obnoxious postal bill in Congress, which proposed 

 to double the amount of postage on all plants, bulbs, and seeds. With the 

 interest which the members have taken, and the work of the committee that 

 visited Washington to oppose the passage of the bill, no change Avas made 

 in the rates of postage. Now, I maintain that if the society has done no 

 further good than to defeat this bill, we have reason to be well satisfied. " 



