STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 117 



Horticultural Society lo attend by delegates or otherwise. The meeting promises to Ije a 

 large and interesting one, and will he addressed by Prof. J. B. Turner and others. 



Truly yours, 



W. C. FLAGG, 



President Illinois Stale Fanners' Association. 



Mr. Greene moved that two delegates be appointed from this Society 

 in response to the invitation, which was concurred in, and 



C. W. Greene and H. D. Emery were appointed as such delegation. 



SYSTEM OF CROP REPORTS. 

 Mr. Greene, having obtained leave, addressed the Society as follows : 



The subject I wish to present is the establishment of a system of crop 

 reports, which we have recently undertaken, making the headquarters at 

 Jacksonville, in this State. I first proposed it from Jackson, Tennessee, 

 but I found it was too far from the centre of crop location, and some three 

 months since we first commenced the issue of our reports. 



These reports contemplate the issue, by counties, of the crop reports 

 of the United States, not only giving the aggregates, but giving the local 

 data, so that the information may be verified, as well as be of local bene- 

 fit. What I propose giving in these reports, is the information given us, 

 so as to be of actual benefit to you. The horticultural products are 

 recorded in separate tables, during the time of their production. The 

 information is given twice per month, and as fast as received. You will 

 see that every one of you is interested more than any individual publisher 

 can be. The work is one that must be done by co-operation. I cannot 

 do it alone, and I have only undertaken it because I am officially connec- 

 ted with the National Agricultural Congress, and, at the same time, it is 

 the universal desire of the American community that such a system be 

 established. I have undertaken tlie matter, but must get the co-operation 

 of many men in all the different industrial societies. We have at present 

 over one hundred correspondents, and there are some here whose assist- 

 ance I value very highly. I do not present this as a matter to benefit me, 

 for it is a work of years ; but I want you to comprehend the character of 

 these reports, and to see the immense practical value they may be to each 

 one of you, if you will assist in the counties where you have interest ; if 

 you will assist us in getting a good reporter in these districts, and then 

 get each of your local papers to publish the crop reports. You have just 

 as much interest in seeing this work done right as we have. You have an 

 interest in assisting us to verify and correct these rei)orts. 



