No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 719 



EVENING SESSION. 



January 21, 7.30. 



President Chase called the meeting to order and stated that he 

 had no formal address to make. He referred to the present as the 

 forty-fourth annual meeting of the Association, and while its meet- 

 ings have been productive of good to the horticultural interests of 

 the State, it is a matter of regret that its work has been handicapped 

 on account of its limited list of regular members. Another reason 

 why interest in its work has declined is owing to the delay in the 

 publication of its annual reports which are usually issued about two 

 3 ears after adjournment. While we as members have a duty to per- 

 form in this matter we believe our great Commonw^ealth also has 

 an interest in the great question of horticulture. 



The PEESIDENT: We have with us this evening one of our 

 former presidents who will tell us what, in his opinion, is ^Tennsyl- 

 vania's Duty to its Horticultural Interests." I have, therefore, the 

 pleasure of introducing Prof. Heiges, formerly of Pennsylvania, now 

 of Virginia. 



PENNSYLVANIA'S DUTY TO ITS HORTICULTURAL INTER- 

 ESTS. 



By PiioF. S. B. Heigbs, Saxe, Va. 



I would do violence to my feelings, if not grateful for this cordial 

 reception. I have come at the kind request of your President and 

 Secretary, and am glad for the opportunity to meet with you on 

 this occasion. 



I think I can say, truthfully, that I have been all over this State. 

 There is not a county in which I have not spoken once or twice, and in 

 some, many times, and I have discussed before your Farmers' In- 

 stitutes almost every practical side of agriculture, horticulture and 

 pomology. I have observed and studied the unlimited resources of 

 Pennsylvania Avith great pleasure. There is no state so highly 

 blessed in natural resources, with such diversity of soil and advant- 

 ages, and railroad facilities for bringingto market its bountiful crops 

 from all sections. And yet with all those advantages at command, 

 I regret to see so little progress made in the direction of horticul- 

 ture. An empire in herself, Pennsylvania has done less for this in- 

 dustry than some of the smaller states. Although the question 



