102 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



"Trees of Prophecy" was the title of a toast responded to by Prof. 

 H. J. Eustace. 



I am interested in the apple orchards and the spraying machinery 

 and all these things, but I am far more interested in the crop of boys 

 that we have in the college. It may look an easy matter to one on the 

 outside to get up before them and keep them interested in a subject 

 that is naturally dry and hard, but when you see these fellows respond- 

 ing in the way they do; when you see the people all through the state 

 respond in the way they do, showing a real practical interest in the 

 boys — this makes the work lighter. 



We have a great many students that are holding high positions in 

 horticultural work in various states, and with the very best fruit grow- 

 ers in the country. It seems to me that each class is just a little 

 better than the one before it, as Prof. Tom Gunson said a short time 

 ago. 



Mr. Hendrickson referred a few moments ago to the kind way in 

 which the practical fruit grower helps us out. We had thirty or forty 

 boys out on fruit farms last year and they made good. One man said 

 to me: "I want two of your best fellows next year," and another 

 has asked for four in the spring. The spirit back of all this, the spirit 

 of co-operation and confidence is what makes our work not only easy 

 but interesting and pleasant. So let the good work go on, and we will 

 do the best we can at our end of the line to maintain a high standard 

 and respond to the calls with young people whose hearts are in the 

 work and who will do the right thing. 



Mr. Broderick, of Ontario, responded to the toast, "Our Responsibility 

 to the Children Who are to Succeed Us." 



I did not expect to make a public speech, for I am afraid that your 

 judgment of me would be like that of an Irishman's. When President 

 Lincoln was first nominated for the presidency, he began making stump 

 speeches and struck a little town somewhere in New York state. The 

 gentleman for whom Pat was working said to him: "I would 

 like to have you go and hear this self-made man talk," and so he went. 

 When he came home the gentleman asked him what he thought of the 

 self-made man, and he replied, "I don't think much of his job." 



Young men and young women, I want to say to you that for all that 

 has been done for you, you owe a debt which you can never pay until 

 3'ou become fathers and mothers and raise a family. No child can 

 pay the debt until he or she becomes father or mother and pass on to 

 their children what they have been given by their parents. 



Now, I am glad to be here with my friend Mr. Thompson. He pre- 

 tends to be a Free-Trader, but he is not. Last year he wanted me to 

 go to Massachusetts to their horticultural meeting and I consented. 

 Then I went with him to Vermont and he coaxed this year to come 

 to Michigan — I was not invited by your secretary — I came along to pro- 

 tect Mm. I tell you what he will probably tell me when we get to going- 

 home — he is an Irishman and I am an Englishman — and it is the story 

 of an Irishman. After the South African war an English soldier was 

 sitting on the streets of a town with his nose, one ear, one leg and 

 one arm off. An Irishman walking down the street noticed this fel- 

 low, who was begging. He stopped and looked at him and threw a 



