184 STATE HORTICULTURAL bOCIETY. 



advancing, or where shall wo hide our heads for very shame? The use of 

 fruit is increasing with our prosperity, and growing with our growth. Where 

 is the supply to come from if we are listless and inattentive to the urgent 

 demands of our business? To encourage us in this matter, 



WHAT HAS NOT NATURE DONE FOR US? 



Has she not given to us as fair and fruitful fields as ever fell into the lot of 

 man to possess, or that the sun ever shone upon? Does she not give us as 

 copious and timely or luxuriant rains, and refreshing and richest dews, as ever 

 fell on fair leaf or flower? Where, in all the fair fields of creation on the 

 bosom of this beautiful earth, will you find such bright and genial sunshine 

 as is the lot of our inheritance? Where will you find balmier breezes and finer 

 adapted conditions for varied plant growth than on the surface of our never 

 failing fields? Arc not all these great natural blessings just the conditions 

 exactly suited for the fullest and purest development of the handsomest and 

 most tempting fruit that ever touched the lips of dignified manhood? Talk 

 about the products of the glass fruit houses of Europe for their nobility I 

 We don't need them, we can do better. The open Gelds are our fruit houses, 

 and the broad canopy of heaven is their enclosure. Oh, my friends, if you are 

 not successful in the production of the finest and best of fruits in abundance, 

 that will favorably compare with those of nearer or fartlier India, or of the 

 Gold Coast of America, it must be on account of your lamentable inattention, 

 and tiie cause must lie at your own doors. In conclusion let me say study 

 the nobility and usefulness of your work. Let it produce upon you its true 

 and legitimate fruits of good living. Yield to no discouragements^ but with 

 fresh courage take wider strides and broader and deeper views of the nature of 

 your business. You will ultimately triumph and become the acknowledged 

 benefactors of your race and times. 



DISTRIBUTION" OF REPORTS. 



J. D. Baldwin : I notice by the librarian's report that there are a large 

 number of volumes in our hands, of the different years since and including 

 187G. Why not disburse them to counties where we have no society, as a 

 benevolent enterprise; get them into the hands of men in the newer parts of 

 our State that cannot afford to pay the dollar a year, but who will by and by, 

 and will, after getting a volume or two, be glad to **chip in" and secure them 

 regularly. 



.Secretary Garfield : That is just what we have been doing the past year in 

 a number of instances, but there are two things we have been trying indus- 

 triously to secure : First, the organization of branch societies wherever we 

 can : Second, the placing of volumes where they will bo appreciated and used. 

 The volumes are not issued to simply fill up library cases, but for assistance to 

 those who need it. Mr. Baldwin will see, by the report of the librarian, that 

 there have been distributed a large number of the best volumes during 1883, 

 and even more will go out ])robably in 1883. The supply will not last long, 

 and we must remember that some of our brightest fruit-growers arc those who 

 come into our State from outside to pursue tlieir chosen calling here, and are 

 eager to get our volumes. We want, for years to come, to be able to supply 

 those people. 



Of these new comers there are many in our State to-day who would gladly 

 pay an extravagant price to complete a set of our volumes, but we can only 



