EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 159 



vState Hoi'ticiiltnnil Society, and taken part in the program. I was also 

 invited to spealc at the annual meeting of the Illinois State Horticultural 

 Society held at Champaign, and to lecture to the students in the short 

 course in horticulture at tlie Illinois State University. In February, 

 I gave two addresses upon horticultural topics at South Bend before 

 the St. Joseph County Farmers' Institute, and a month later responded 

 to an invitation to give three addresses at the Menominee County Agri- 

 cultural School in connection with the Farmers' Short Course. 



I have also acted as superintendent of the Horticultural Department 

 of the State Fair and have had the general oversight of the landscape 

 features of the fair grounds. At the Grand Rapids Fair I looked after 

 the installation of the South Haven Station Exhibit and was in charge 

 for a ])ortion of the week. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



A considerable portion of the time has been required to answer letters 

 of inquiry upon horticultural matters. Many of them are from parties 

 in other states wlio contemjtlate moving to Michigan to engage in farm- 

 ing or fruit growing, and write to ask regarding desirable locations or 

 tlie adaptability of a given section to their particular purpose. In other 

 cases, they are from city-bred men who have already moved here and 

 are seeking information as to the best methods of handling their land 

 or crops. IMany of the writers confess they have had no experience and 

 know nothing about farming, but are anxious to obtain definite informa- 

 tion. 



It is often ])ossible to send them bulletins that will be helpful and, 

 upon subjects which seem to be most often asked about, I have prepared 

 circulars which are mimeographed and kept on hand to use when oppor 

 tunity occurs. 



I have- also continued the plan of sending short articles, generally 

 <>()0 to 800 words, upon horticultural subjects to the county papers, so 

 that during the spring and summer months they will have one nearly 

 every week. They are upon timely subjects and are sent to the sections 

 of the state Avhere they are likely to be of most interest. They hav^^ 

 been quite generally used and I have received many letters from the 

 editors of the state commending the plan, and asking that they may be 

 furnished with the articles regularly. 



In closing, I wish to express my hearty appreciation of the Avork done 

 by my assistant, Mr. Frank A. Wilken,'as superintendent of the South 

 Haven sub-station, and to commend his earnest and painstaking efforts, 

 as well as the interest, fidelity and excellent judgment he has shown. 



L. R. TAFT, 

 Consulting Horticulturist. 



Fast Lansing, Michigan, June 17, 1909. 



