112 



officers will occur. I am going to ask Professor Sears, our 

 "vice president, to take the chair, and then there are two or 

 three things we want to decide at this meeting. I hope you 

 will all stay until we are through. 



PROFESSOR SEARS. The president invited me to 

 take the chair, but I don't see the chair. (Laughter). If 

 I understand the situation, the first question is, Where shall 

 we hold the next meeting? I would like to ask the presi- 

 dent if he has anything to bring before us in that connec- 

 tion? 



PRESIDENT FROST. Mr. Sevey of Springfield has 

 something to bring forward. 



MR. SEVEY OF SPRINGFIELD. Ladies and Gentle- 

 men : Just a word. I am sure you all appreciate the meet- 

 ing we have had here, and Boston has done the right royal 

 thing. Nothing succeeds like success and we want to see you 

 take another great forward step, which we believe you will do 

 if you come to Springfield, for your next session. We hav-j 

 the finest facilities for a convention of any city in New Eng- 

 land, not excepting Boston; we have an active Board of 

 Trade and Ave have a new Auditorium which will accommo- 

 date about three times the number you have here, so that 

 you have ample space for growing. Our hotel accommoda- 

 tions cannot be beaten. They tell me you have about 900 

 members today, the largest horticultural society in New 

 England and the most enthusiastic at this moment, I believe. 

 I used to bank on Maine and Connecticut, especially Connec- 

 ticut, but I guess they will have to take a back seat now. 

 But I am sure you are not going to stop here, and that being 

 the case you must look out and ahead. You have been in 

 the middle and in the east. Now, come into the western 

 part and see wliat we have there. I want to back up these 

 remarks by a letter from the secretary of the Springfield 

 Board of Trade. (Reads letter). 



We want you to come, not some time in the future, but 

 the very next time. 



PROFESSOR SEARS. You have all heard of the abil- 



