The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-01

Address delivered before the Alabama
 Horticultural Society,"
 Ladies and Gentlemen and Members of the Alabama State Horticultural So- cety:
 In extending at this, the fifth annual meeting of the Alabama State Horti- cultural society. hearty greetings and wei come to the members, and to others who are present to cheer and help us along with their kindly interest, it is highly gratifying to see so many old members and a goodly number of new ones in at ttendance; and more especially is 1t grati- fying in view of the untoward conditions with which the horticulturist has had to contend during the past two years.
 The question has been raised as to the most opportune time for the holding of our annual meeting. Some of the members have expressed a preference for the first week in December as being most con Nenient to the largest number, and this IS agreeable to me, but I would suggest, however, that the matter of both place and date of meeting be referred to the nominating committee hereafter to be ap- pointed.
 Although it Is not a pleasant matter to touch upon the discouraging horticultural conditions of our state-and Alabama does
 
 whole south, yes, we may say almost every section of the United States, has met with the same isappontment-yet 1 feel 1t my duty and think 1t best to com ment upon the darker as well as the brighter aspects, so that we may see more clearly what the future promises. It should not be forgotten that there are times in every business enterprise and calling when trying disappointments and difficulties present themselves, and hor- ticultural pursuits are not exempt.
 Year before last the orchardists of the entire south suffered severe losses, owing to the unusually wet period that occurred during the gathering and shipping season, especially of the peach, which under such conditions develops brown rot Last year the exceptional spell of warm weather ia March, causing the fruit buds to unduly swell and in some of the more southern portions of the state to blossom, was fol- lowed by successive frosts, the earlier one seriously injuring the buds in bloom and the later one destroying nearly all of the fruit after it had already developed to considerable size. In certain favored locations the damage was very slight. Then, too, we all remember the great storm that swept the Gulf coast in De- tober, 1906, and proved destructive to the forests and the bearing fruit. and pecan trees.
 
 protecting ourselves against untimely frosts and certain other unfavorable cli- matic conditions, but these are not of such frequent occurrence and very seldom of such severity that they are to be re- garded as a serious menace to the pros perity of the horticulturist. Respecting the different diseases and pernicious in sects injurious to fruit trees and plants, and which to within recent date have been so greatly feared, methods have been found enabling us to largely check their ravages. These results have been brought about by the efficient work of the botan- ists and entomologists of the United States department of agriculture, the several agricultural colleges, experiment stations and state departments and boards of agriculture.
 We believe that even the brown rot, now regarded as a grave menace to the peach grower, will eventually be controlled to great degree. Bulletins describing the methods for the treatment of plant dis eases may be had for the asking by ad- dressing the institutions just mentioned
 While dwelling upon the difficulties under which the horticulturist labors he farmer who owns the house in which he hwells and the land that yields him q livelihood the horticulturist enjoys a se- rurity and independence rarely found in should at the same time be mindful of the great advantages he enjoys. Like the other occupations. During periods of se- were financial stress he feels that he can depend upon his land to provide the needs of his family and himself. He and the farmer are the last to suffer the i'll eff lects of hard times.
 In my several addresses attention has been directed to the importance of bring Ing out in general discussion the most desirable varieties of fruits for home and commercial orchards and those most suit lble to the several fruit sections of the ptate. Nothing has been done thus far In khis direction, and would favor the ap- bointment of committee to prepare such list, including small truit& to be TO- ported at the next meeting. It is now ksuseally known by the public that 1t is