24 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
with in the same way, and our horticul¬ 
tural resources materially developed 
from within the State. With the citrus 
fruits, where variation of seedlings is not 
as radical as with some others, the more 
scientific method of artificial pollination 
presents an inviting field which has al¬ 
ready been entered upon to a considera¬ 
ble extent, and crosses produced not 
only between varieties but species, that 
promise much for the future. This field 
is so large, however, and admits of 
such an almost endless combination in 
the assembling of desirable qualities of 
different varieties under one exterior 
covering that there is no danger of its 
ever being overdone. 
And then in addition to the planting 
of fruit tree seeds, either naturally or ar¬ 
tificially pollinated, there are numerous 
shrubs and flowers which are subject to 
the same laws of variation and which of¬ 
fer a delightful field of experiment to 
those of us to whom the beautiful in na¬ 
ture appeals; and to whom of us does 
it not? 
In mentioning the possibilities that lie 
before us in the way of further develop¬ 
ment, I trust that none of you will think 
that I am belittling the actualities that 
already exist. On the contrary no one 
of you recognizes more than I the gran¬ 
deur of our horticultural domain, and the 
grandeur of our well-established horti¬ 
cultural products. Let us continue to 
import into the State every tree or vege¬ 
table or seed or plant or cutting that 
holds forth promise of being an acqui¬ 
sition, but let us also remember that we 
have within our State limits, at our 
fingers’ ends, a mine of wealth in vari¬ 
eties yet unborn if we will but apply the 
wizard touch. 
And now, ladies and gentlemen, I 
wish to congratulate each member of the 
Society on the fact that we are horticul¬ 
turists. The pursuit that we follow is 
one that is broadening, ennobling, uplift¬ 
ing. Of all the arts and sciences there is 
no other the followers of which are 
brought into such close relation with 
nature; and he who can feel his own 
pulse responds to nature’s mighty heart- 
throb is a king, regardless of whether 
he live in palace or hovel. He can, as can 
all of us if we are true horticulturists, ap¬ 
preciate the sublimity of sentiment ex¬ 
pressed by William Cullen Bryant in 
“A Forest Hymn 
“My heart is awed within me as I think 
Of the great miracle that still goes on, 
In silence, round me—the perpetual 
work 
Of thy creation, finished, yet renewed 
For ever. Written on thy works I read 
The lesson of thy own eternity. 
Lo! all grow old and die—but see again 
How on the faltering footsteps of decay 
Youth presses—ever gay and beautiful 
youth, 
In all its beautiful forms. These lofty 
trees 
Wave not less proudly that their ances¬ 
tors 
Moulder beneath them. Oh, there is not 
lost 
One of earth’s charms; upon her bosom 
yet, 
After the flight of untold centuries, 
The freshness of her far beginning lies, 
And yet shall lie.” 
