LOCATION AND PROTECTION OF THE ORCHARD. 405 
Jearn all that is necessary to success if he will but put his observations into 
practice. But the great majority will do nothing of the kind, because that 
means lots of work and some little thinking. Consequently the nurseryman 
will continue to have that class as regular customers for all kinds of nur- 
sery stock; just because, as he says, he has not the time or disposition to do 
the work as it ought to be done. Success depends more on the man than the 
location. ° 
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS, SO. MINN.HORT. SOCIETY, 
1900. 
J. C. HAWKINS, AUSTIN. 
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Southern Minnesota Horticultural Society: 
J am glad to meet you as we come again to our annual reunion, and 
as your presiding officer direct your thoughts, in my humble way, to some 
of the interests of our organization. And while I greatly appreciate the 
evidences of your confidence by, the duty and the privilege you have thus 
conferred upon me, it is with many misgivings as to my ability to interest 
or instruct you that I address you at this, our yearly interchange of thought 
and experiences. Such fraternal meetings can not fail to be profitable and 
pleasurable, and we should enjoy them, not alone for their educational feat- 
ures, but also for the social renewing of old acquaintances and the forming 
of new ones. 
From a practical business standpoint I feel sure that no successful fruit 
grower can afford to miss meeting with his brethren at these horticultural 
gatherings and taking.a part in the exchange of ideas and experiences. It 
matters little how much he may know about horticulture, he will certainly 
be greatly benefited by coming in touch with other successful men of his 
own vocation. May we not logically conclude, if this premise be true, that 
he who is but a novice stands yet more in need of the advantage of our meet- 
ings and should derive correspondingly greater benefits? 
_ So let me here cordially and heartily invite each one within the sound of 
my voice, young or old, novice or expert, to just as heartily participate with 
us, be free to ask or to answer questions, and give your experiences. You 
may think your experience an unimportant one, and yet it may be just what 
some one else needs. 
I particularly wish to impress our young people with a desire to study 
these things with a purpose, a definite goal to be reached. While it is un- 
doubtedly true that some of these older members, whose locks are fast sil-. 
vering, have for many years wrestled with these intricate problems con- 
fronting the fruit grower of the wind-swept plains of southern Minnesota 
and are capable of giving trustworthy advice and instruction all along this 
line, yet upon your shoulders, young friends, must soon fall these mantles, 
upon your shoulders be placed the burdens of the coming day. Now is 
your season of thorough preparation, that you prove not unworthy. You 
should make better horticulturists than they have been. Your opportunities 
are much better than theirs were. Their knowledge has come largely 
through the lines of experience, which, although a good teacher, is provok- 
ingly deliberate. They have rough hewn the way, and you may build upon 
the solid substructure of their experiences a grander edifice than it has been 
permitted them to build. As unto King Solomon was permitted that which 
