30 REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE ON GENETICS. 
The guests of the Society having all arrived, Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart., K.C.V.O., V.M.H., addressed them as follows:—Ladies and 
Gentlemen,—If there is one thing in the world about which there can 
be no possible doubt, it is that the Royal Horticultural Society extends 
a most hearty welcome to all the guests who are interested in the 
Conference on Plant-breeding, and who have been kind enough to 
gather round us on this occasion. Especially do we extend our hearty 
thanks to our foreign guests, many of whom have travelled from 
distant countries to be here—men whose opinions and views we shall — 
hear and receive with the greatest possible regard and satisfaction. And 
I think I may say that not only the Royal Horticultural Society extends 
a most hearty welcome to them, but the welcome is also given by all 
those who are interested in gardening and in the pursuit of the art 
and science of Horticulture in this country. They also extend to you alla 
most hearty welcome. The present occasion marks an era when scientific 
men are present from all nationalities, and I am sure, whether it 
be in this country or elsewhere, they will always receive a hearty 
welcome. 
With regard to the Royal Horticultural Society I should like to say 
a few words, because there may be a good many here who are not very 
well acquainted with the history of the Society. The Society is now 
in the 103rd year of its existence, and during the period—the long 
period—it has been established, it has naturally met with the usual 
ups and downs of fortune. A good many years ago it was part of the 
work of the Royal Horticultural Society to send collectors abroad for 
the purpose of gathering together such shrubs, plants, trees, seeds, 
bulbs, and other things as it might be thought desirable to introduce into 
this country. That business has now come to an end. Private enter- 
prise has taken the place of the Society in that respect, and I think it is 
a subject for congratulation, because it has enabled the Society to devote 
its energies to fostering, guiding, aiding, and protecting the horticultural 
interests of this country rather than to sending collectors round the 
world, which, after all, is more properly the work of professional 
horticulturists. 
I dare say you all know, as is most certainly the case, that the 
Gardening Industry of this country is a very important industry. I do 
not think I should be exaggerating at all if I were to say that perhaps it 
is almost, if not quite, at the head of the minor industries of this country, 
and that it is closely associated with the great agricultural interests of 
the land, and may possibly be regarded as being in some respects even 
of greater importance than that industry. 
I need scarcely say that in dealing with the subjects we are to discuss 
at the Conference I should be the very last person to claim any intimate 
acquaintance with the specially scientific aspects of those questions ; 
but I know enough to enable me to say that we owe a great deal to 
the intelligence, enterprise, industry, and sagacity which have been at the 
root of all the hybridisation and plant-breeding which have been going on 
for many years in this country. 
If we carry our minds back a few years we shall see what enormous 
strides have been made. [ was very much struck, for instance, when we 
