TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING. 35 



addresses shall be supplied for the purpose; in addition to which, it will 

 be able to supply more or less of the publications of other and kindred 

 divisions, among which are those of mycology, botany, forestry, entom- 

 ology and perhaiDs others, including the general report of the head of the 

 department. 



Specimens of new or rare fruits and plants, as well as of those to be 

 sent for identification, are invited; for which, on application, mailing 

 boxes and postage will be supplied; or, if preferred, application may be 

 made to me instead, at my headquarters at South Haven, Michigan. 



At present the division and, in fact, the entire department, is in narrow 

 quarters; in consequence of which their operations are more or less ham- 

 pered or embarrassed; a state of affairs which, it is hoped, may be reme- 

 died in the not remote future. It is also hoped that the division may 

 soon be authorized and, by aj)propriations for the purpose, enabled to col- 

 lect and distribute for trial, seeds, plants, and cuttings of rare, valuable, or 

 new and promising fruits, and other horticultural products; and that it 

 may be supplied with facilities, which it yet lacks, for the propagation of 

 such for dissemination. 



On the part of the societies it is proposed that they furnish lists of their 

 officers and members, one or both, with their postoffice addresses, the 

 same to be corrected as often as needful. 



Also that they maintain a standing committee or committees of persons 

 qualified to respond, as fully and correctly as practicable, to such circu- 

 lars or other communications, calling for information, as the division may 

 from time to time send forth. 



It may quite possibly be found desirable that such societies shall supply 

 the division with the addresses of such local horticultural societies, agricult- • 

 ural societies, granges, and other local organizations, as may become 

 affiliated with them in matters pertaining to pomology, or general or 

 special horticulture; though just what action shall be found preferable in 

 this direction, must depend upon future developments. 



There are probably other means by which the society and the division 

 may be able to mutually aid each other in the important .work of develop- 

 ing, systematizing, and generally advancing and building up the impor- 

 tant and growing horticultual interests of our common country. Just 

 where, how, and to what extent these operations shall be carried, it is a 

 leading purpose of the contemplated system of visits to develop and 

 determine. 



Probably the most serious embarrassment with which this society has to 

 contend, is a lack of the memberships from which its chief source of means 

 for the defraying of its unavoidable expenses must necessarily be mainly 

 derived. The fact that while so many persons readily avail themselves of 

 the facilities afforded by our periodical gatherings, as well as of the annual 

 volumes published at a large expense to the society, and this in a state 

 so extensively devoted to this class of interests, is but a sad commentary 

 upon the public spirit, not to say upon the ordinary sense of right and pro- 

 priety, of its horticulturists as a body. 



It is hoped that the many and decided advantages to grow out of the 

 contemplated co-operation, with the National division, as already pro- 

 posed, may be so employed by the society as to largely add to its list of 

 active, paying members, and to its means of general effectiveness. 



Yet another source whence an increased membership may, perchance, be 

 educed, would seem to lie in a possible arrangement with the authorities in 



