3 3 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



I mean that when a man perverts his nature to its baser possibili- 

 ties society suffers an injury ; and when a man gives to his faculties 

 their true direction and development the race is benefited, and I say 

 that in social intellectual intercourse there does exist and can be 

 found a great promoting power of mankind's dearest interests. 



The field is broad and marvelous in its diversity of surface and 

 capacity. By far the greater portion of its vast expanse is yet 

 unbroken by the plow. But each new year brings in new ground^ 

 and ever}- year brings new conceptions of the truth that head and 

 hand can work together everywhere and that each occupation has as 

 much its field of thought and study as of manual toil. There comes 

 new meaning to the dictum that man shall eat his bread in the sweat 

 of his blow. This great truth you, xny friends, who are to-day our 

 honored guests, have come to demonstrate to us and in behalf of 

 our people and their agricultural and pomological interests and in 

 behalf of social intellectual development and progress everywhere, I 

 thank you for your presence and bid you God-speed in your noble 

 work. 



RESPONSE BY HON. B. WALKER McKEEN. 

 It seems hardly fitting that I should be called upon to utter a word 

 at a meeting devoted to the interests cf fruit growing. Being a 

 novice in the business I can only say a few words, by wa}' of respond- 

 ing to the eloquent words of welcome, with which the honorable 

 gentleman has greeted us. It is always pleasant to receive such 

 words of welcome and encouragement, coming, as they do, with 

 such evidences of heart}' sympathy for our work. 



The study of pomology is fraught with many difficulties, but is, I 

 believe, very enchanting to all those who have a genuine love for the 

 trees, shrubs and flowers with which God has beautified and adorned 

 our hill- sides and valleys. The science has a marked and prominent 

 place in our country's history, as well as in the history of the world. 

 Particularly the apple takes its place as an exponent of all that is 

 beautiful and desirable. From the time when it tempted our first 

 parents, until to-day, it has been a constant source of help and 

 encouragement to all mankind, and I trus'. that I may be pardoned 

 if I say that, in my judgment, it is destined to play a still greater 

 part in our history, from this time on, until it shall become a most 

 potent factor in bringing us back to Eden. 



