s.

President's Address

I want to say it is a real privilege and pleasure for me to visit with
you today and to have the honor of serving as your president for the
past year. I have always been impressed with the enthusiasm and optimism
of this group. You know enthusiasm and optimism are highly contagious,
and I look forward each year with great anticipation to my regular
inoculation.

It is particularly fitting that we assemble here with a common goal and
purpose and also with the common knowledge that there is much work to be
done. This society, which was formed 42 years ago, has enjoyed great
progress and I wish to commend the men who had the vision to conceive
this association and nurture it to manhood. Their accomplishments were
indeed fruitful. However, there is still room and need for a program of
expansion. It is our responsibility and obligation to see that this
growth continues. The rings of growth on a tree trunk push outward and
continually expand and grow--so must our association. Sometimes we
become so deeply engrossed in what we are doing or trying to do that it
is advisable to back up and take a broadside view of our objectives and
purpose. In other words, we sometimes cannot see the forest for the
trees.

I should like at this time to review the real intent and purpose of the
Northern Nutgrowers Association. The defined purpose of this
association, as stated in the Constitution, is to promote: (1) Interest
in nut bearing plants; (2) Scientific research in their breeding and
culture; (3) Standardization of varietal names; (4) The dissemination of
information concerning the above and such other purposes as may advance
the culture of nut bearing plants.

We are very happy that the 1951 convention has come to Illinois, which
represents the western rim of this group. Only one meeting was held
farther west, and that was held in Iowa in 1915, when my good friend and
fellow Iowan, D. C. Snyder's brother, was active and contributed so much
to nut culture in this country. The late Sam Snyder's, as well as D.
C.'s untiring efforts, did much to originate and develop some of the
finest named walnut and hickory nuts in Iowa. Through the years many
other good nuts of the black walnut, hickory, pecan, Persian walnut and
chestnut have been added to the ever-growing list. It is my considered
opinion that one of the real questions that must be answered and
answered intelligently, based on actual experience,