34 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



blades of grass grow upon a spot where only one could grow before 

 would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to 

 his country, than the whole race of politicians put together. 



And this order of occupation is the one in behalf of which we are met. 

 We, you are constantly gathering in your respective home places, 

 and assembling primarily for the improvement of your calling ; but 

 here, in a session more elaborate than usual, more far-reaching for 

 the State, have sent up delegates and representatives. We are 

 gathered here in a large convention that by comparison, by sugges- 

 tion, by discussion we may come at methods beneficial to our special 

 branches, and advantageous to ourselves individually. For, beside 

 desiring to be better grangers, better Iruit growers, better agricul- 

 turists of every kind, we want to become larger souled men and 

 women too, which we can by associations like this, and I should be 

 disloyal to my own calling if 1 did not sum up all of our wishing, 

 and express it in that term, though it, too, belongs to my vocation, but 

 which belongs to all departments, the term Christian ! Children of 

 that God who by driving his frost as a plough through the soil of 

 the whole world has constituted Himself siS a patron of agriculture. 



And to this conference we bid you welcome. We welcome you to 

 our town, to our hospitality, to our homes, to our sessions. Our 

 hearts are warmed, and our hands extended in glad greeting, and 

 we trust that to you, no less than to ourselves, this will be a red- 

 letter time in the history of these several societies. 



In behalf of the visiting organizations Secretary Gilbert was 

 invited to respond to the Address of Welcome. 



RESPONSE. 

 By Z. A. Gilbert, Secretary of the Board of Agriculture. 



It seems to devolve upon me in behalf of the organizations here 

 represented, to give a response to the words of welcome to which we 

 have listened with so much pleasure. 



If the position of the distinguished speaker who has pronounced 

 these words was embarrassing, what in comparison must be my own 

 situation in attempting to promptly frame a fitting response ? 



It gives us great pleasure to be thus welcomed to your presence 

 and to this hall. Such a welcome tends to give us encouragement 

 and lightens our labors. 



