PRESIDENT strong's ADDRESS. 133 



sible, our ample means, our large membership, composed of men in every 

 profession, many of them skilled in the sciences, many of them having 

 time and means for careful experiments, scattered as we are over every 

 variety of soil, it would seem reasonable to expect that the combined 

 wisdom and experience of our cultivators should find expression in dis- 

 cussions, in essays and lectures, in a record of experiments — with fertil- 

 izers, with crops, with different methods of culture, with the ever vary- 

 ing conditions of our art — and that such expression would be so exact 

 and so thorough as to be of jjermanent and highest value. It may be 

 said that the producti:n of scientific and also of practical treatises must 

 be an individual work, and this is doul)tless true; but there are ways in 

 which our Society might stimulate and become the patron of such works, 

 especially in the form of lectures. Yet I apprehend that some of the 

 most important contributions to science might be drawn from many of 

 our members, should they be encouraged to make careful note of their 

 methods and experiments, with a view to making them public in essays 

 and discussions, held under the auspices of the Society. Can it be 

 doubted that if opportunity were given for presenting brief monographs 

 of experiments, of methods, of results, and if it were understood that 

 statements of value would be duly honored, the number of observers 

 would largely multii:)ly, and important facts would be obtained? 



Still further, there are interests -connected with our profession which 

 require discussion equally as in the different branches of commerce. 

 Many topics of importance would be brought forward at meetings for 

 free discussion which, at the present, and at our regular business meet- 

 ings have fallen into the back ground. 



Without pursuing the subject, I submit it to your consideration, 

 whether any methods can be devised by which the influence of the So- 

 ciety may be increased in the direction suggested. 



In this connection, I wish to direct your attention to the great and in- 

 creasing value of our library, comprehensive as it is, not only in the pop- 

 ular and practical treatises upon our art, but also in rare and costly 

 works, many of which are not to be found in any other library in this 

 country. It may help us to appreciate our privileges if I allude to the 

 testimony of Mr. Robinson, the distinguished English writer upon hor- 

 ticulture, who witnessed our last annual exhibition almost without the 

 knowledge of any of our members, who has since written that the 

 collection of books in our library was the best he has yet seen; also that 

 our building was much superior to any in Britain, devoted to this 

 purpose. 



By reason of a special fund provided through the munificence of one 

 of our esteemed members, whom we are glad to see with us to-day, and 

 also by reason of the valued services of our committees upon the library, 

 we may hope to maintain its excellence. Need I urge upon our mem- 



