282 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Professor Freeman: There was some trouble in Jay county that re- 

 sulted in nearly bringing the matter into the Supreme Court; but that 

 resulted from the fact that when the law came out a great many persons 

 who had the power of notary public got in their buggies and drove all 

 over the county and solicited farmers to make these exemptions. Out of 

 forty-three every one was wrong, and that is why the auditor would not 

 file them. As soon as they were made out correctly the auditor ffled 

 them. You can file the claim at any time throughout the year, and the 

 auditor will keep the record of this, and the assessor in the spring will 

 examine the various forests and report favorably or mifavorably. If fa- 

 vorably, the auditor will make the reduction; if not, he will refuse to 

 make the reduction. If the man has 160 acres, he can set aside 20 acres. 



The meeting here adjourned until 9:00 a. m., B^'riday, August 23. 



MORKING SESSION". 



Friday, August 23, 9:00 A. M. 



President Hobbs: We will open the exercises this morning by music. 



Piano solo by Mrs. Ort. 



President Hobbs: We will now be led in prayer by Rev. B. P. Bennett. 



Prayer by Mr. Bennett. 



President Hobbs: We will now have a solo by Mr. Matthews. 



Vocal solo by Mr. Matthews. 



President Hobbs: The first topic for discussion this morning is "Our 

 Native Plum," by Prof. E. S. Gofi:, Horticulturist at the Wisconsin Ex- 

 periment Station. I regai'd Mr. GofC as the foremost authority at this 

 time as to the native plum; I think he has had more experience, he has 

 done more with them, and knows more about them, probably, than any 

 other person in the country. 



Professor Goff: Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen— Before begin- 

 ning my lecture, I wish j'ou to all understand what is meant by the native 

 plums. It may be known to some of ns, and many of us, that there a're 

 several different species of the cultivated plums. We all know that there 

 are different varieties. We are all, perhaps, familiar with the Lombard 

 plum, the Green Gage plum, etc.; but some of us may not know that there 

 are several other distinct families of plums. There is the blue plum that 

 you so often see in the market, large blue plums, and the old green gage 



