The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-20

due in no small measure to the hospital itv and courtesies of it's citizens, that l am confident of voicing the sentiment ol every member in saying that we are right glad to be here again on this occasion.
 ..rhe programme before us is so at tractive and demands, if any degree or justice is to be done to it, such an eco nomical use of the time allowed for the sessions, that thought best to make my address rather brief, especially sev- eral of the topics l had intended dwelling upon to greater extent are likely to be quite thoroughly covered in some of the papers we are to hear and which, trust, will invite ample discussion.
 I've have come ostensiby for the pur- pose of doing our utmost to increase the efficiency of the society, and it is but fair to those taking an active part and doing good work that they be given every opportunity to make their efforts count for as much as possible.
 Growing Interest
 "Assuredly, every one of us realizes our indebtedness to President Thach and the faculty of the agricultural department at Auburn in lending themselves as they have whenever called upon, to help awak- en 8 greater interest in our society and to enlarge it's service to the peo- pie. We are also grateful to Hon. J. A. Wilkinson, state commissioner of agri- culture, for so cheerfully rendering much needed assistance. and to quite num- Der of others who have contributed no little to our progress.
 Tt is scarcely necessary to add that we also deeply appreciate the generous publicity the press has heretofore given our proceedings and earnestly hope we can count on having it's continued end far-reaching support.
 ''The society is proud of the number of capable, energetic and willing workers on it's list, and with them would have made far greater headway in carrying out it's plans had not the lack of funds pre- vented It was for this reason impossible for us to get the transactions of the last three annual meetings published prior to 1910, and they could not even then have been printed had not MT. Wilkinson kindly consented to issue them as one of the quarterly bulletins-Serial No. 36- of the state agricultural department. A judicious distribution of at least a few thousand printed copies of each of the proceedings of the society should be made annually as the literature would not only be highly instructive, but also of great practical value, and I am confident would extensively promote the planting of home and commercial orchards, the beautify- ing of the home and school grounds and promote civic improvement generally The proceedings would bring the person re- ceiving them in closer touch with us and with the agricultural department at Au- burn where any desired information along the lines of agriculture and horticulture is readily given on request.
 Tt would be of great value If our sec retary, Prof. P. F. Williams. state hor- ticulturist, a most capable and enthusi- astic worker, could make more frequent trips throughout the state to note what is being done along horticultural lines and with what results. Useful information could also be obtained through corre- spondence with interested parties in ev- cry locality where fruits have already been planted. The data, after being put into shape, should, along with the horti- year. be submitted at the following meet ing of the society for study.
 We ought to have maps of the state giving the topography, the character of the soil of each locality, the kinds and varieties of fruit best adapted to each, and the acreage already planted to or chards. I need hardly emphasize how valuable 1t would be to have as many facts as could be obtained along this line systematically gotton together. care full study and discussion of them would enable us to give authoritative advice as to what fruits are likely to do best in any particular locality.
 "As has already been said, we lack funds to carry on properly the work of the society and are therefore again obliged to. appeal to the legislature for an appropriation. This matter is now in the hands of the committee on legislation appointed at our last meeting, nwhich committee will. no doubt, do it's Utmost to bring our needs before the legislature in way to secure favorable considera- tion.
 Want More Membership
 Tn this connection would urge greater effort than has yet been made to increase the membership of our society.
 Through my extensive correspondence | in connection with the nursery business I am kept fairly well informed as to what is being done along horticultural lines in | our state, and am glad to say that there | has been steady advance in the plant | ing of fruits, more largely of home and | commercial orchards. During the past | year the increased interest has been more noticeable In the large planting of apples peaches, oceans and Satsuma oranges and this is owing largely to the success | full efforts of the entomologist in finding means for the protection of our trees anG | fruits against the ravages of pernicious insects. brown rot of the peach and plum litter rot of the apple and other diseases | which can now be almost entirely con. trolled by careful applications of pre- i scribed spraying mixtures.
 | Another incentive to more extensive l planting has been the introduction of i'm proved heaters to insure the fruit and truck crops against injury from frost. Il may be assumed that with timely use ol | the heater very little if any injury iron l spring frosts need be feared in any of ths southern states. The outlay for heaters
 fuel and attendance will be many time.
 repaid in the saving of any average crop These safeguards to horticulture along with the comparatively low pricei l of land favorable climate and other ad
 vantages are bringing into this tsate man, | people from the north with capital to en | gage in fruit and pecan culture Ther'
 never was time when the interest in az
 riculture and horticulture has been so gen eral among the people in both city ant country throughout the United States a now, and this Is in part shown by thu prominent place given to horticulture