Northern Nut Growers Association, Report Of The Proceedings At The Tenth Annual Meeting. | Page 4

that time the greater part of the
world was at war, and owing to conditions prevailing during 1918, it
was impossible for this association to hold its annual meeting. Your
speaker is still holding the office of President because you have had no
meeting at which new officers could be elected. It is to be regretted that
the past three years have been crowded so full of events, that it was
impossible to give the association matters the attention they deserved,
and devote the time to them I would have liked to have done.
With the armistice came a cessation of war, and we are all happy that
the terrible struggle is over, but with it have come conditions that are
almost as terrible as war. Famine and want stare millions of people in
the face on the continent of Europe. Our own country is at present in
the grip of strikes for higher wages, the like of which has never been
known. Yet we are prosperous beyond the greatest dreams of any
nation on earth, but with this prosperity comes many duties. Our yields
of food crops have been great, but to us has fallen the lot of feeding the
world, and this will continue until industrial and agricultural conditions
of Europe, have been reestablished on a pre-war condition.
There never was a time when meats of all kinds were so expensive, and
to many almost prohibitive. Many have learned the use of nut meats in
varied ways until all kinds of edible nuts are quoted on the markets
today at prices undreamed of in former years. These conditions will not
always last; crop failures will come; and production will be curtailed.
Land values are advancing so rapidly that the production of cheap
meats will be impossible. To help supply this deficiency, there will be
an increased demand for nuts of all kinds.
To help meet this demand, much can be done by road side planting. On
our main market highways, such trees as the grafted black walnuts

could be planted profitably, in many sections of the country; the
English walnut in some parts where they succeed the best; and the
pecan and chestnut in other parts of the country where they are
specially adapted.
While commercial planting of nut trees may not be attractive to the
average man, home planting of a few nut trees can be recommended for
every where space is available. They will make beautiful shade trees,
and produce crops that will eventually be of great value. To land
owners who are planting private parks, avenues and pastures, we would
recommend nut trees.
The production of nut trees is very difficult, and the development and
testing of new varieties, a slow and expensive process. We need the
Government's helping hand, and are very glad that there has been set
aside by Congress an appropriation to help develop this industry. We
have with us, the Nut Culturist from the Department of Agriculture,
who is devoting his entire time along these lines.
On the programme that is to be presented here, today and tomorrow,
are men of national reputation in their respective lines, who stand at the
head of their profession. To our friends and visitors here, we extend an
urgent invitation, that you attend all the meetings possible, and we trust
that you may learn much that will be of interest, and that this
information may be taken home to your different communities.
Our sincere thanks should be extended to the Programme Committee
and our very efficient Secretary who have given so much time to this
work.
For an association to stand still, is usually to go backward. Owing to
war conditions, and missing one meeting, we have had little chance to
increase our membership. I sincerely trust that the Membership
Committee will be active while here, and extend an invitation to all to
become members, and to help advance an industry that will be for the
good of posterity, and should give us much pleasure during our own
lifetime.

We are told, the good we do unto others lives after us. May the Nut
Trees planted and fostered by the members of this association, live long
to wave their leafy branches under Heaven's purple dome, and may
weary pilgrims of future generations rest beneath their shade, and enjoy
their fruits, thanking us with a silent prayer that these trees were
planted for their benefit.
PRESIDENT REED: I believe the next thing in order will be the
reading of the secretary's and treasurer's reports. Does any one have
anything to present while we are waiting for the secretary, who is busy?
DR. MORRIS: How many members have we, Mr. President?
PRESIDENT REED: I don't know. Several have written me asking
about members, and Mr. Olcott probably knows something