January 1, 1916 HORTICULTURE 11 



SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS 



AND 



ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURISTS 



NEW YEAR'S GREETING 



There is no day in all the year that brings more expectant joy to the heart of every man than 

 the advent of a ]iew year. The privilege, as President of the S. xV. F. and 0. H. of extending to 

 its members and to their families the sincere wish for a happy and prosperous Xcw Year, gives me 

 extreme pleasure. 



There is no doubt whatever in my mind l)ut that it will be a prosperous year, and inasmuch as 

 prosperity and happiness go hand in hand, I can readily assume that it will be a happy one. Trade 

 conditions throughout the country are very healthy. We have harvested the largest crops in our his- 

 tory and this is the back-bone of prosperity in any country. 



We have more to hope for in the year 191G than we have ever had before. Our Country has 

 been saved from the horrible calamity which has ovenvhelmed Europe and we are hopeful that we 

 will be spared from such a fate, not only this year, but for all years to come. 



It is with great personal gratification that I can look upon the S. A. F. and 0. H. as more 

 truly a National Body than it has ever been. The Convention held in San Francisco in 1915, was in 

 my opinion, a step forward. Its convening in Houston, Texas, in 1916 will be another step toward 

 making it a really National Organization in every sense of the word. By extending our Conventions 

 to the West and South, we not only benefit those sections, but the Society itself gains much by se- 

 curing large numbers of recruits from the new territory which has thereby Ijccome attached to it. 

 Ever}' section of the country is benefited, and the members are already drawn closer together 

 than ever before, forming a universal brotherhood for the jirdinotimi dt' all tliat is lieneficial to the 

 individual and to the Society as a whole. 



As the President of this worthy Organization [ am proud to be able to send a kind greeting to 

 all the craftsmen of the Society. Our membership is increasing steadily and I know that it will con- 

 tinue to do so. This larger membership will make it possible for us to undertake in the future 

 many things that would be otherwise impossible. I am particularly desirous that every man associ- 

 ated with our profession should have the opportunities which our Society alfords and as a slight 

 stimulant toward increasing our membership, I am offering $150 in gold the same as was done by my 

 predecessor, Mr. P. Welch. This I will hand to Mr. John Young, secretary, as an award to the 

 member who will bring in the largest number of new members between the period January 1 and 

 July 31, 1916 — the only stipulation being that the winner must bring at least thirty new members. 



I hope that the Vice-President in every state, as well as every member of the Board of Directors, 

 and every permanent committee, will co-operate with me in pushing forward this endeavor to in- 

 crease our membership. In order that these heads may attain the required success it will be necessary 

 for every individual who is fortunate enougli to lie a member of the S. A. F. and 0. H. to give forth 

 his best efforts, for "In Unity there is Strength," and if these efforts are put forth untiringly, we 

 will beyond a doubt soon have a membership list three times what it is today. 



It is the sincere desire of this Society to build up a permanent Institution founded on a pillar 

 of fairness and goodwill, and I hope every member will lend his efforts to this end. 



Again extending a message of hearty good wishes and unbounded blessings for the New Year. 1 am. 



Faithfully yours, 



President. 



