The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-04-19
DeLand, Fla, Wednesday, April 10, 1898

see more of the State. | want to say more, that
the gentlemen who took in the excursion to the
pear and peach orchards around Pensacola yes
terday we're more than surprised with what they
say A-genteman from Pensacola said that it
was a revelation for him to know what was
going on in West Florida.
The section around Pensacola is growing more
and more in the science which we represent. We
never doubted, no man ever doubted, what the
welcome would be in Pensacola, They will plleIt
onto you as they did on once before when [
was here, until it is little troublesome to bear
up under. I want to say that we need to say
no more than what have already said. We will
leave Pensacola more than satisfied that she is
eminently capable of extending the welcome to
the sons of the State Horticultural Society of
Florida. Our society is not entirely represented
here as to it's strength. While we are not large
society, yet l think in point OF intellect OF the
State horticultural Society, we are fairly repre-
sented 1 do not think anything can add more
than l have already SAID would be convincing
more to the people than what they will probably
see before we leave their city. We ara more than
satisfied with the welcome we have already re-
ceived and we know the satisfaction that we re-
ceive in the welcome hereafter will be in the direc
tion of our physical disability.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
President Ada ms then made his annual
address, as follows:
Gentlemen of the Florida State Horticultural
Society,"
One of the greatest of all Americans once said:
Every body knows more than anybody"
That this is true nobody has ever denied,
1t was the uneXpressed, even unconscious recOg-
milton of this truth that led to the organization
of the Florida State Horticultural Society. 1t
will not be cOntended for moment that any
Florida hortcuIturist mOnopolizes all the hOr-
ticutural wisdom of the State, however pro-
found his scientific attainments, however subtle
and fine his theories however broad and long
his practical experience. Though he may com
bine all these in one person, till he easily knows
more than anybody, yet the immutable fact re-
mains that everybody knows more than he
The Florida State Horticultural Society was
organized to make available the knowledge of
every body. The scientists and theorists are here
The plain. practical worker is here.
The enthusiasm and fresh thought of the be-
ginner is here, mingled with. and tempered by,
the veteran. The beginner sees roses on every
bush The veteran shows scars by contact with
the thOrns The beginner looks radiantly ahead
sometimes allured by false lights on the shore
The veterans prospect for the future is some
times clouded by shadows from the past, and he
needs the cheerful cOmpanionship of those who
have never had shadows to darken the way.
Veteran and recruit student andwOrker, he who
smells of the laboratory and he who smells of the
field meet together in these annual conventions.
The knowledge of each is offered to all, and the
scientific and theoretical and practical wisdom
of everybody becomes available to anybody,
That is what our society is for,
AS the horticultural traveller goes rushing
through the State behind the distance-defyng
locomotive, he gets from the window a ka-
eidoscopic view of horticultural efforts that too
plainly show the need of wider dissemination
of horticultural instruction. The thousands of
failures and half failures, the evidence of money
lost and bright hopes blasted, of heavy labor,
biistered hands and reeking sweat all for naught,
bear slent testim ony to the fact that industry
unguided by knowledge is OF little value. Mixed
with these are fruitful orchards, beautiful gar