FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
25 
talk and study take not the form of action 
then have we labored in vain. 
During the past few months, I address¬ 
ed a circular letter to every member of 
the society, in which I asked for an ex¬ 
pression of opinion on many matters of 
importance, and asked for suggestions. 
The replies have been numerous and my 
reward ample for the trouble I took. Much 
to enlighten and cheer the Society has 
come to me. Encouragement for the fu¬ 
ture, and splendid appreciation for the 
past of the Society has breathed from 
many of the much-valued letters received. 
I desire to thank you, most sincerely for 
these expressions of your better selves. 
In the quiet of your homes, you have said 
things that you would not say on the floor 
of this house. You have my promise to 
use the good suggestions in so far as I 
shall be able. These heart-to-heart let¬ 
ters shall bear fruit. 
Among the weighty subjects discussed 
in those letters, was that of ‘‘State Aid” 
in the printing of our annual reports. A 
careful tabulation of the replies show 
about an equal number favoring and op¬ 
posing the acceptance of such aid. Among 
those favoring, are some of our oldest and 
most thoughtful and experienced mem¬ 
bers. On the other side, can be found 
those of equal experience and wisdom. 
Some have cited other states in which 
State Aid is supposed to be the cause of 
their ruin as a society, while others point 
out other states in which it has had the 
opposite effect. The array of arguments 
pro. and con. is formidable and shows 
the ability and reasoning resources of our 
members. It is not my province or wish 
to discuss the question or to express an 
opinion on it. If the matter comes up, 
all the reasoning, on all its sides and phas¬ 
es, will be developed and the society can 
then pass upon it intelligently. Without 
taking the time to discuss them here, I 
will say that many of the suggestions 
made by members will be carried out 
during the progress of the meeting, as 
they shall fit into our work. 
We are to be favored by a number of 
emdnent persons, with addresses and pap¬ 
ers, during the progress of the meeting, 
as a glance at the program will show. 
Will these friends of the Society allow 
me to express, if ever so feebly, our sin¬ 
cere thanks for their kindness and our 
high appreciation of their valued efforts. 
But, what of the work? We have six 
sessions before us, occupying two full 
days. We shall have seven formal ad¬ 
dresses and papers. We shall listen to 
the reports of sixteen committees, and 
these reports will be ably and exhaustively 
discussed. In the course of these discus¬ 
sions will come out much of the real value 
of our gathering. Don’t hesitate to stuff 
our “Question Box.” Show me by your 
patronage of this lx)x that you appreciate 
a chance to ask questions. Work, fast 
and furious, is our portion for the next 
few days. At the close of the meeting 
may we feel that we never had a better 
one. Amidst the friends of many years, 
in the city of hustle and progress, with 
words of welcome to inspire our efforts, 
with the social feasts before us, our tasks 
shall be light and their accomplishment 
assured. 
