214 Aiiicrica^i Hortlcu/furnl Society. 



In a letter to Secretary Kagan, April 20, 1887, Prof. E. S. Goff, horticulturist 

 to the ]'x|ieriiueiital Station of New York, said: 



" What 1 want to see is a merging of the two societies in the near future." 



J. M. Smith, President of Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, wrote me 

 November 22, 1887, as follows: 



"It has seemed to me, for some years past, that there is a tendency to too 

 many societies; that if tlie AnuMJtan Pomological Society and American Horti- 

 cultural Society could be consolidated into one good, strong and healthy organi- 

 zation, and could work in harmony with each other, and meet at least once in each 

 year, and have at least a four-days' convention, it might be productive of more 

 good than both are doing at present. Yet I may be mistaken. 



" Our country is so large, it has so many and such a diversity of interests, that 

 perhaps it is better that they should remain as they are. One thing is evident to 

 all friends of both societies: we need more means in order to get out our jmblica- 

 tions. I do not see just how this difficulty is to be remedied. Perhaps you can 

 suggest some })ractical plan. I hope so." 



Similar sentiments to those already presented were received from other able 

 members both of this and the American Pomological Society, and hence I am 

 emboldened to jiropose apian of cooperation of all American horticuUiiral societies, of 

 uhateier cliaracter, under Ibe yen end title, 



THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL UNION. 



Under this head it is proposed to show. First, that by disunited or separate, 

 individual action of the present national horticultural societies, of which there are 

 no less than si.x or seven, great expense of time and money is required to conduct 

 them, only partial and much inaccurate work is done by each, and much ground 

 gone over by one is again as ineffectually traced by others, thus unnecessarily 

 burdening and finally discouraging the members of each, and gradually, by lack 

 of support, the officers, burdened beyond all endurance, also become discouraged, 

 interest dies out, and these organizations, which should be perpetual and of great 

 value to every member and the country at large, soon will cease to exist. State- 

 ments in the communication just read clearly indicate this, and we must meet the 

 issue like philosophers and statesmen if we would survive. 



Second, that the immense extent of country, climate and variety of interest 

 among all classes of horticulturists in North America demand distinct yet cooper- 

 ative organizations. Cotiperation in general eflbrt and object would reduce all ex- 

 pense of travel and time to members, and the working expenses of the societies in 

 securing data, announcing meetings, programmes, and publishing reports, and 

 demanding aid of the Department of Agriculture to assist in disseminating useful 

 information collected by tliem in all branches of these fundamental industries to 

 tbe lowest cost ; also, such vast interests in voluntary education in thaso highest 

 of all pursuits demand the most thorough division of labor, that no two will l>e doing 

 the same work and leaving undone other just as important work. 



They demand the perpetual existence of an American Pomological Society 

 an<l American Horticultural Society, an American Forestry Society, an American 

 Viticultural Association, an American Nurserymen's Association, an American 

 Florists' Society, an American Seedsmen's .Vssociation, and a Society for the Pro- 



