PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 53 



other, they are often more sinned against than sinning. This is also a good 

 financial investment for the state, for the boys are saved from lives of 

 crime. The school for girls at Adrian is equally good for the same purpose. 



The state has invested in these institutions S10,000,000, and expends 

 two million dollars per year for their support. They are managed by 

 boards composed of some of the best men in the state, who serve without 

 compensation and are willing to sacrifice their valuable time for sake of 

 the welldoing of their work. 



Then, too, there is the insurance commissioner, working to keep the 

 people from loss from unsound insurance companies. The railway com- 

 missioner stands for the rights of individuals in controversies with railway 

 companies, giving them help which they could not otherwise obtain, for 

 the average man is ill prepared to cope with a corporation in maintaining 

 his rights. The inspector of illuminating oils engages to protect the pub- 

 lic from the sale of unsafe illuminating oils and from the explosions and 

 accidents which otherwise would be frequent. The commissioner of labor 

 collects most valuable statistics of the state of labor in the commonwealth, 

 ascertaining conditions, a knowledge of which is essential to wise legisla- 

 tion concerning workingmen and their needs and rights. 



I congratulate yoia upon your success as horticulturists, but still more 

 upon your condition as citizens of this grand state, whose interests are 

 yours, and to guard which and to do your portion toward making this a 

 model government is your sacred duty. 



ADDRESS BY POMOLOGIST HEIGES. 



Prof. S. B. Heiges, pomologist or the national department of horti- 

 culture, was introduced, but spoke but briefly. He had not come to make 

 a speech, he said, and after listening to such a " Rich " address he felt 

 still less inclined to say much. He spoke of difficulties of the department 

 in determining the names of fruits, of apples especially — of the various 

 markings, shapes, colors, and variations of kinds under varying- conditions. 

 All these have to be studied and recorded in order to determine the variety, 

 and the same work has to be done for the peach, the plum, orange, and 

 every other kind of fruit. There is no end to these peculiarities, and yet 

 we are supposed to know all of them — but we don't. One peculiarity of 

 the division of pomology, the youngest division of the department, is that 

 BO much of its principles and details are not fully known and understood. 

 But we all delight to study it, and the advancement made is highly 

 promising. He said the department is always ready to help the fruit- 

 growers, and told how to send sample fruits for inspection and name, 



