as interested. In the past, years ago, the
Endicotts probably pioneered in a new variety of nuts. Later on, the
Caspers and Gerardis and Whitfords and now the Oakes and Best families
are doing a lot of work in the propagation of new and better varieties.
We have a lot of areas in Illinois suitable for nut propagation, with
the Wabash, Illinois, and Mississippi rivers, and we have been working
with farm advisers and other groups to increase nut production and now
we have a new horticultural experimental station in the southern part of
the state. There is a lot of land suitable for that type of production.

Out on the horticultural farm we have, I guess, several hundred
seedlings and varieties of nuts which you will probably see. I hope your
stay here will be a lot of fun as well as profitable.

DR. CRANE: It is a great pleasure for me, and I know from the expression
that I have had from those with whom I have talked, also for the members
of the Northern Nut Growers Association who are here to be able to meet
in Urbana as guests of the University of Illinois. As a matter of fact,
we have tried and wanted to come out here for quite a long while, but
we didn't have a good invitation and we are glad to accept--here we are!

The members of the Northern Nut Growers Association are all good people
and they are very much interested in nut growing, not so much from the
standpoint of making a fabulous income and being able to retire on an
unlimited bank account on ten acres of land in nut trees, but they get a
lot of pleasure out of fooling with them as a hobby, and in order that
they might more or less through their trees respond under God's loving
care.

This is the 42nd annual meeting of the Northern Nut Growers Association,
so it is no longer a baby. It is growing up. I don't know what the
membership is at the present time. The secretary is going to tell us
what the membership is this afternoon. It has gotten to be quite a
sizable organization. We welcome the opportunity of coming out here to
Illinois to see some of the nut orchards and nut trees in this great
state, particularly pecans, although we do see quite a lot of hickories
and also walnuts.

We certainly thank you, Dr. Birkeland, for your welcome and I know that
our pleasure here is going to be unlimited. We thank you.

DR. ROHRBACHER: Thank you, Dr. Crane. We had them bring up some water to
take care of our whistles.

At this time I'd like to present our addres