ANNUAL MEETING. 155 



The protection tlio grower of these j^roducts receives must come from some 

 other source. It must he that which increases tiie demand for tliem near 

 home. If protection helps to huild up manufacturers, to increase the popula- 

 tion of our cities, and hring to our doors, or with short transportation, 

 consumers for our horticultural products, it is what we want. It is that 

 which makes u market for all that we can raise, and at good prices, that will 

 best protect us; and if we do aid our brother producers, the wool growers, by 

 paying more for our woolens, and growers or manufacturers of other materials 

 which we use, if we can be assured that by doing tiiis we are helping ourselves, 

 it is certainly for our interest to do so, and there is no need, to ask the removal 

 of duties on strictly horticultural products when wo are receiving the general 

 benefits which are supposed to arise from a protective tariff. If the money 

 yo>: pay is kept at home and returns ag;ain from the mill oi)erative, or the 

 laborer, in exchange for your fruits, it is what you want. 



The producer, whether he raise vegetables, fruits, flowers, grain, meat, or 

 wool, wants consumers, and for liorticultural products especially, wants them 

 uear him. 



If protection does this, it is what he wants. If not, then he does uot want 

 it. For one, I believe it does this. 



Bat, taking things as they are under the present policy of this country, with 

 reference to the tariff, the horticulturist has no occasion to ask for free trade 

 on products in which he is directly interested, and ask some other class to 

 take the charges from himself. In fact, if such should be the case, I can see 

 very little relief from present prices. Suppose the duty of 20 per cent on 

 seeds were taken off, can you believe that the price of the present five cent 

 paper of seeds would be less? If as Messrs. Ferry & Co. intimate the duty on 

 seeds has a tendency to induce experiments in seed growing iu various localities 

 till we shall produce all our seeds; Who will say that it is not better for us? 

 And if true of seeds, why not of trees and plants? 



I have said so much on the tariff and in favor of protection because your 

 secretary intimated that the matter was being discussed among members of 

 this society, and officially by other societies. Let the horticulturists give this 

 matter due consideration, and act for the best interests of themselves and the 

 country. 



Following Mr. Butterfield's paper, was an address by Prof. W. J. Beal, of 

 the Agricultural College, thorougiily illustrated by numerous charts and draw- 

 ings upon 



THE STKUCTUKE AND GROWTH OF A TREE. 



A few days ago the hazels, beeches, chestnuts, oaks, hickories, walnuts, and 

 buckeyes, matured their fruit, and with this maturing the burrs, or cups, or 

 husks, opened or the stems snapped in two at a joint which began to form 

 months before. There was a weak spot in the flower stem. To make up for 

 this weakness, the place was swollen or enlarged. If a burr or nut lield fast 

 too tenaciously, the frost made it willing to drop, and down it went with 

 hundreds of others, among the leaves. 



The leaves, with the help of the shifting winds, gently covered tlie fruit — 

 or some portions of it. The leaves make the best kind of protection from 

 dry air and severe cold ; and they come just in the nick of time. To be sure, 

 all the seeds and fruits are not covered, but Dume Nature is generous. She 

 produces an abundauce; enough for seed and enough to feed tlie birds, squir- 



