FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 41 



of fruit for culture iu the State of Michigan, and the best methods of 

 cultivation.'' 



The Society had at its organization 364 annual members, representing 

 20 counties, and including one member each from Missouri, Ohio, New 

 York, Indiana and Illinois. 



It has held since that time an average of four meetings each year 

 for the consideration and discussion of various pertinent questions 

 and making exhibits. It has visited nearly every place where there 

 was sufficient local interest to insure a fair attendance and pay the 

 local expenses. 



Forty-three annual reports have been issued, which the Secretary has 

 comi)iled, and the State has piiblished. These reports furnish valuable 

 text-books and reference works, similar to the library of a lawyer or 

 physician. They can readily be obtained by anyone interested at small 

 cost. 



The State formerly aided the Society by an appropriation of |I,500 

 per year, which was later cut to 11,000 per year, and a few years ago 

 was cut off altogether. The cutting off of the appropriation has hamp- 

 ered the Society but has not deterred its members from continuing 

 the work, for they realized it benefited the State as -a whole, even more 

 than themselves personally, and that its benefit was many times the 

 value of the pittance gi'anted it. 



Many of the states make a liberal appropriation to the work similar 

 to that done by our Society, in addition to the appropriation for agri- 

 cultural colleges, experiment stations and institutes. 



These appropriations, in some cases, are expended under the direction 

 of a commissioner or a committee, for the general aid of horticulture 

 within the State, and su})plementing the work of the other agencies. 

 Exhibits at exjwsitions and fairs often are paid for out of such funds. 



Perhaps the most conspicuous example of this field of work is in 

 California, where the Commissioner is Prof. A. J. Cook, for many years 

 on the faculty of our own Agricultural College, and known personally 

 or bj^ reputation to many of you. 



Prof. Cook had .'i?2T,500.00 a year for his department, and his staff 

 runs at times up to thirty employes. 



I suggest to you as horticulturists and business men and citizens of 

 Michigan that you consider whether an appropriation to the State 

 Horticultural Society would not be a wise investment for the State 

 of Michigan. I would not have it so large as that in California, but cer- 

 tainly no smaller than the $1,000 that Avas last granted, and preferably 

 nearer the |1,500 originally given the Society. 



This universal distribution over the state tells the story of favorable 

 soil, location and climate, just as the comparisons given just before men- 

 tion of this point, told the story of high production rate and good prices. 



Soil is, of course, an element in this high production rate, and coupled 

 with it must be industry and intelligence in the handling of orchards, 

 vineyards and small fruit beds. 



Michigan has been a pioneer and ahvays a leader in stimulating study 

 of the best methods in agriculture and horticulture. 

 Before such an audience as this I need not recount the history of the 



