PRESIDENT S ANNUAL ADDRESS. , 21 



First in present importance, let us stimulate by every means 

 the new interest in plant-breeding. The membership of this 

 auxiliary society has reached seventy without any personal so- 

 licitation or special effort ; it should be at least doubled before 

 the close of this meeting. There are none of us too old or too 

 poor or too busy to be excused from contributing our mite of 

 labor and enthusiasm for this uplift of our art. We have feared 

 that the title, "plant-breeder," might sound too scientific or 

 professional to the ears of some who would be very willing to 

 select and plant a little good seed of fruit or flower each year. 

 Let it be fully understood that such simple selection and plant- 

 ing is all that is required for membership or for reasonable ex- 

 pectation of valuable results, but that the more intelligent the 

 breeding and selection of seed the more certain the hope of great 

 advancement. 



While upon this subject of plant improvement permit me again 

 to urge the duty of appreciation for the v/ork of those who are 

 engaged in it. Our society and the fairs are doing much bv way 

 of premiums, but nothing will take the place of personal notice 

 and friendly commendation. It costs nothing but the exercise of 

 a decent Christian virtue, and I have no hesitation in saying that it 

 will advance our interests more than any other effort that we can 

 put forth. 



While this work of helpful appreciation must in the main be 

 a personal one, I am under the impression that the tune has ar- 

 rived when our society should undertake a systematic visitation 

 of those who are engaged in experimental lines. Some years ago 

 the seedling committee, and others especially delegated for the pur- 

 pose, were occasionally commissioned to visit interesting points and 

 report their observations to the society. I believe that so much 

 good resulted from these sporadic effort*? that the society would 

 be warranted in appropriating a certain sum for systematic visi- 

 tation in each congressional district. Whether this duty of visi- 

 tation should be added to the work of the vice-president or a new 

 office be created for the purpose should ha\e the careful considera- 

 tion of the society. 



While we as individuals, and as a society, are endeavoring to 

 carry on this important work, we should use our influence to the 

 end that the horticultural department of our great agricultural col- 

 lege be fully equipped for doing the highest kind of scientific work 

 with our horticultural plants. With all the buildings and appara- 

 tus now provided, there is a lack of land for planting and test- 



