STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 51 



INSECTS AND DISEASES. 



The experience of the last year has proven more conclusively 

 than ever before that insects, scab and rot, will destroy from 

 half to three-fourths of our fruit, unless we constantly and per- 

 sistently combat them. The experience of entimologists and 

 practical pomologists prove beyond question that the codling 

 moth, canker worm and curculio, our three most destructive 

 insects, can be controlled by the use of insecticides, and I am 

 quite positive that diseases of fungous origin, such as Scab, 

 Grape, Peach and Plum rot, can be overcome by the intelligent 

 use of Fungicides, when we learn what to use and how to use it. 

 This question should, and no doubt will receive careful attention 

 at the horticultural experimental stations for several years to 

 come, and we may reasonably expect valuable results. 



FRUIT EXHIBITS. 



Our fruit exhibits, in connection with our annual meeting, 

 have been very successful and interesting, and should be con- 

 tinued and perhaps more and larger premiums offered. But it 

 has occurred to me that if we could make a satisfactory arrange- 

 ment with the State Board of Agriculture, as is done in Wiscon- 

 sin, Minnesota, Kansas and some other States by which a great 

 educational exhibit of horticultural products of all kinds, es- 

 specially new and unknown varieties, could be made at the State 

 lair, it would prove a great attraction there, and arouse an in- 

 terest in horticulture that would greatly benefit the farmers and 

 horticulturists of the State. And as the most cordial relations 

 exist between the two Boards, and we are both engaged in the 

 same common cause, I see no reason why an arrangement of this 

 kind cannot be made. 



OUR BURDEN BEARERS. 



I think it proper at this time to call the attention of the So- 

 ciety to some of the earnest, self-sacrificing men who have done, 

 and are still doing, the work that has given the Society the high 

 position it occupies among the Horticultural Societies of the 

 land. 



We have always been fortunate in the selection of Presidents, 

 and to the good work they have done may we attribute much of 

 our success. Our present President came to the office under 

 trying circumstances, but has not proved an exception to the 

 general rule, and for nearly two years has rendered faithful, un- 

 remunerated services. During the session of the Legislature he 

 spent weeks of valuable time watching and pushing our appro- 

 priation bill, and did much to secure its final passage. 



The members of the Executive Board, past and present, are 

 among our most intelligent and faithful workers. Very few un 



