182 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



tie of timber growth is being removed, and fearing calamitous results, especially 

 to our climate, have long deprecated the almost entire lack of foresight in 

 this respect, among both lumbermen and farmers. 



The society has already made what was, of necessity, but a feeble preliminary 

 effort to draw attention to this matter, by the offer of premiums for screens or 

 wind-breaks, whether planted for such purpose, or reserved iu the clearing up 

 of farms. The society may well consider whether it may not properly invite 

 the attention of the Legislature to the necessity of devising some plan by 

 which such wastefulness, if it cannot be checked, may be so far limited or 

 directed as to essentially modify or diminish the injurious results of such 

 vandalism, at the same time asking for the collection and dissemination of 

 such information respecting the real capacities of our soils and climate as shall 

 still more strongly establish, abroad as well as at home, the status of the 

 State in these particulars, involving, as they clearly do, most other possibilities 

 of an agricultural character. 



The society has now for several years, by an arrangement, renewed from 

 year to year, with the State agricultural society, taken charge of the fruit 

 and flower exhibitions of that society at its annual State fairs, making up 

 its own premium list (under a limit by the agricultural society of the amount 

 to be used for the purpose), and awarding the premiums. This arrange- 

 ment, if continued for the ensuing year, must be renewed at the annual meet- 

 ing of their executive committee, which usually occurs early in January. It 

 will therefore be needful that the subject be considered by our executive 

 board, at this meeting, and that arrangements be made accordingly. 



Under present arrangements the society offers opportunities to exhibit fruits 

 for comparison and identification, at the meeting in June, again at the State 

 fair, in September, and at the two winter meetings. These suffice, very satis- 

 factorily, for the autumn and winter fruits, and also for such summer fruits 

 as chance to be in season at the June meeting, which is generally so held as best 

 to meet the strawberry season. It is found impossible to so time this meeting 

 as to properly meet the strawberry season, and, at the same time, accommo- 

 date any considerable variety of either cherries or raspberries. It is equally 

 true that early plums, both very early and very late peaches, and many of the 

 earliest apples and pears, are never seen upon our tables, in a condition 

 adapted to give a proper idea of their character and real importance, while all 

 possibility of exhibition as a means for the comparison and identification of 

 varieties is, for the same reason, out of the question, so far as the fruits 

 named are concerned. A consequence of this condition of things is, that 

 very few persons have a proper knowledge of varieties of these fruits, and 

 many spurious sorts are ignorantly planted and grown, and freely disseminated 

 over the country, in fruit or in plant, or both. 



It would seem to be very proper that the society consider what remedy, if 

 any, can be devised for this condition of affairs. Our sister society, so long 

 under the presidency of our esteemed friend Dr. Warder, has for many years 

 kept in the field an "ad interim committee," charged with the duty of visit- 

 ing points of interest, from time to time, with reference, as we suppose, to 

 matters of this character. We invite your consideration of the question 

 whether this or some other equivalent means cannot be devised, and made to 

 meet and remedy the difficulty. 



This short paper was followed by another given by Mr. Lyon as chairman 

 of the committee on new fruits. 



