WINTER MEETING, 1880. 9 



the subject? It is far easier to point out defects than to provide remedies, and 

 it is easier, even to suggest remedies, than to put them into practical and suc- 

 cessful operation. 



We must admit, however, that there are serious defects in our present sys- 

 tem. Holding only four or five meetings a year open for mutual exchange of 

 opinion and discussion, the society is unable to reach the masses of the people, 

 except by means of its published annual reports. These books, though of 

 great value, result in no concerted and united efforts in the different localities 

 in the interests of horticulture, and while it is true that here and there indi- 

 vidual attention is awakened, still the progress made is too slow to meet the 

 needs of the society. Some way must be provided for bringing the society in 

 nearer relation to the masses of the people. It should have an active, perma- 

 nent existence everywhere in the State. Its membership should be enlarged 

 and extended, local operations and results should be more fully gathered up 

 and preserved, and frequent meetings should be held in every county where 

 horticultural experiments can he discussed and results ascertained. The State 

 society cannot do the work for each county. 



First. Because it has no machinery by which to do it. 



Second. Because the work is purely local in its character, and if done at all, 

 must be done by those who have a thorough knowledge of local interests and 

 operations, and yet the State society is of little value unless it can gather up 

 the results of all the different localities. No system can be a good one which 

 shall attempt to impart horticultural information to the whole State, unless it 

 is based upon accurate knowledge of the conditions of soil and climate in each 

 locality. 



These defects in our present system seem to me to suggest a remedy, and I 

 submit to the society the outline of a plan for its consideration which is not 

 free from defects in its details, nor from difficulties in its execution, but better, 

 I am persuaded, than our present system. It is, briefly, this : 



That there be appointed, and paid by this society, some competent person, 

 whose duty it shall be to visit every county interested in fruit culture, and 

 establish, wherever advisable, a local society which shall be a branch of the 

 State society, such local societies to be governed by a common constitution 

 and be supported by voluntary assessments of its members, who shall also be 

 members of this society upon the payment of a membership fee, a portion of 

 which shall go to the local branch, and the balance to the State society. These 

 local branches shall hold regular meetings, make regular reports to the State 

 society, and send delegates to its meetings, and each member shall be entitled 

 to receive a copy of the annual report. It shall be the duty of the person 

 organizing such branch to visit them from time to time, encourage their 

 growth, see that their meetings are kept up, and that they are in good work- 

 ing condition. 



I have only indicated the general features of the plan, leaving the details to 

 be filled out as your wisdom may suggest. I believe it can be made successful 

 only by employing some one interested in the work, who will give it his whole 

 time, and see that the various branches are encouraged and kept up. It is 

 only a cpaestion of work. It can be made successful, aud it remains for us to 

 say whether it shall be done. 



By this plan we make the State society a local society in every county, we 

 extend our membership, aud establish communication with every locality in 

 the State. We iucrease the value of our annual printed reports, and secure 

 for them a more satisfactory circulation. 



