102 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



"Under the administration of Commissioner Coleman the division of pomology was 

 organized, and while many were expectant of early results that would justify the bring- 

 ing into existence of the bureau, there were others who said that government aid would 

 not only accomplish much in the progress of pomology, but would tend to check volun- 

 tary labor in this direction; all agreed, however, that everything depended upon the 

 management of the section and all hoped that valuable work would be done. 



"The results have been unsatisfactory, giving due consideration to the fact that it 

 requires a good deal of time and energy to get the division into working order and that 

 without precedent the pathway of investigation must be "felt along" very carefully, 

 and still there is room for serious criticism, and this is finding abundant expression just 

 at present. Secretary Rusk and his able assistant, Willits, are besieged with urgent 

 requests for a better showing for the expenditures in the division, and are both of them 

 deeply interested to have all accomplished that could be desired. Now, I do not hesi- 

 tate to say that in the absence of a model or method to copy it is of absolute importance 

 that the pomologist be a man of national reputation as an organizer, as well as an expert 

 in the field of American pomology. Unless such an one can be secured the work had 

 better be turned back again into the hands of the American Pomological society, where, 

 without funds, progress has been commendable if not wholly satisfying. Commercial 

 pomology ought to receive a decided impetus through the aid of this division, and the 

 production and distribution of newer fruits and knowledge of their adaptability to var- 

 ious sections should receive prominence. But one of the crying needs of American 

 pomology is a thorough education of the interested people, with regard to the adapta- 

 bility of the best points to various localities, the gathering and dissemination of infor- 

 mation that is awaiting the intelligent labor of the statistician. This can be done only 

 in a partial and unsatisfactory way by voluntary efforts of societies and may be thor- 

 oughly and admirably clone by a well-organized and equipped bureau. Information of 

 this sort will eventually become distributed through communities. A newspaper man 

 may interview a successful fruitgrower and publish what he is willing to impart of his 

 methods, and the readers who are seeking this information become enlightened thereby. 

 But we need an organized method of securing this kind of information from wide areas 

 and, best of all, it needs assimilation, and this requires the services of experts. It is 

 difficult to go into the details of our needs in this direction. But one thing is certain: 

 A broadminded man with a wealth of experience and a command of resources to stand 

 at the helm of this division can do for the pomology of our country what has been 

 accomplished in other sections of agriculture. 



"I beg to submit the following preamble and resolutions: 



" Whereas, It seemed desirable by many people interested in the progress of Ameri- 

 can pomology that a bureau of pomology be created under the auspices of the national 

 department of agriculture; and 



" Whereas, In deference to the opinion of these specialists a division of pomology 

 was organized in immediate charge of a government pomologist; and 



" Whereas, Thus far very little has emanated from the division of value to American, 

 pomology, although considerable time has elapsed since its organization and it has 

 been fairly well supported by government; and 



" Whereas, This dearth of results seems to be largely due to a lack of clear insight 

 into the needs of pomology and etficient and well organized efforts in subserving them, 

 therefore 



''''Resolved by the Michigan State Horticultural society. That our president and secre- 

 tary be instructed to prepare a memorial setting forth the facts as to our disappoint- 

 ment in the jjresent condition of the bureau, and its lack of efficiency, and ask that it be 

 placed in immediate control of the most skillful pomologist in our nation who can be 

 induced to thus serve the government, and that ample appropriations be asked of con- 

 gress to secure results that will compare favorably with the other admirable divisions of 

 the department of agriculture. 



'■^Resolved, Tha:t a copy of this memorial be forwarded to the present secretary of 

 agriculture." 



President Lyon remarked that Mr. Vandeman, who is the gentleman 

 referred to in the resohitions, is an intelligent and conscientious man, yet 

 there is apparently a lack of effective work in certain directions in which 

 it should be done. Michigan has a high standing in pomology, and it is 

 therefore incumbent upon her pomologists to make their influence felt 

 on this subject. 



