ANNUAL MEETING. 



The President, Mr. J. H. Hadkinson, called the meetitig to order at 

 2 o'clock. 



INVOCATION BY REV. W. M. BALCH. 



O Lord, of whom it is written that Thou didst place our first parents 

 in the Garden of Eden, Thou who dost care for the Universe and all the 

 inhabitants thereof which Thou hast created, Thou who hast clothed the 

 hills and valleys with beauty and the soil with fertility that men may be 

 fed, we come to Thee at this time with thanksgiving and praise for all 

 Thy many mercies and blessings. We thank Thee that Thou hast given 

 us the trees with their verdure and their blossoms that the eye of man 

 may be pleased therewith. We thank Thee that all thy mercies are over 

 all Thy works forever. We pray that Thou will be in the hearts of all 

 men as Thou art in all the beauties and abundance of nature. We ask 

 that Thou will be, especially, in the hearts of these men who are gathered 

 here together at this time. We ask that Thou will bless them in their 

 deliberations and guide them in their efforts to serve the common good 

 so that they may work in connectioti with Thee and that all may be for 

 the adorning of the earth and causing it to bring forth its fruit in due 

 time for humanity's sake. Lord, we pray Thee that Thou will not look 

 upon us with indifference, but will be gracious unto us and help us in all 

 our efforts. We thank Thee that we have the privilege of cooperating 

 with Thee to make this beautiful world more fail", abundant and beauti- 

 ful. We ask that Thou will help all those who are assembled here at 

 this time to have an eye single to Thy honor and glory so that we may 

 be prosperous in all that we may have to do and in our service may we 

 find true reward. Bless this association and let the richest result of labor 

 be upon each member. These things we ask in the name of Thy Son 

 who came to earth to redeem humanity. Amen. 



The President: The next number on our program is an address of 

 welcome by Dr. C. E. Bessey. I am informed by our secretary that Dr. 

 F. E. Clements will read his paper for him. We will now have the 

 pleasure of listening to Dr. Clements. 



ADDRESS OF AVELCOME. 



BY DOCTOR BESSEY. 



Gentlemen of the State Horticultural Society: While I am not able to 

 be with you in person today, I wish to bid you a most hearty welcome to 

 the rooms of the Botanical Department of the University. It is now 

 twenty-one years since you first met with us, and in that time we of the 



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