490 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



greater interest in the work of tlve societies; plans for more extensive 

 planting have been arranged for next spring, and in every case we 

 tind these plantings will consist of a ver}^ few varieties that seem 

 to be specially adapted to the particular locality. 



The investigations in horticulture by Prof. Stewart, under the 

 auspices of the State Experiment Station, have been fairly started, 

 and will very soon begin to show results. The State of Pennsylvania 

 i*> to be congratulated upon the public spirit manifested by the or- 

 chardists of the State in offering their hearty co-operation and the 

 use of their land for these experiments free of cost. In this age of 

 graft and extortion, it is refreshing to find one set of men who are 

 willing to do somthing for the public good without special gain to 

 themselves. 



The Horticultural Department of State College has been re-or- 

 ganized and every facility will be afforded for the study of horticul 

 ture in all its branches, including market gardening and the manage- 

 ment of greenhouses, hot-beds and cold frames. A commercial market 

 garden and small fruit project will be started in the spring, so that 

 the students can pursue their studies from a business standpoint. 

 This department will be in charge of Prof. R. L. Watts, the ex-Chair 

 man of our General Fruit Committee, with whom most of you are 

 acquainted. He is a thorough scientist, an excellent teacher, and at 

 this time one of the most successful market gardeners in Western 

 Pennsylvania. I feel that we are exceedingly fortunate in securing 

 his services. In this connection, the most hopeful sign, to my mind, 

 is the fact that a number of young men are already enrolled in this 

 course, with the intention of taking charge of the home farm. 



While congratulating ourselves upon the bright prospects for hor 

 ticulture at State College, we cannot forget the great loss the college 

 and our Society has sustained in the tragic death of Prof. Geo. C. 

 Butz, who was cut down in the midst of a useful career. He was an 

 authority on all horticultural matters; he was justly popular in 

 every county of the State where he lectured at Institutes, because 

 of his accurate knowledge of his subject, his untiring industry, his 

 modest, unassuming manner, and his genial, kindly nature, which 

 endeared him to every one who knew him. 



And now, what can we say for the year upon which we are about 

 to enter? 



Each grower should have a definite, distinct idea formed in his 

 own mind as to what special results he wishes to secure; what kind 

 of trade he is going to cater to, and always tow^ards this one end. 

 If you will go persistenly after a particular line of trade, study its 

 needs, and do your best to supply them honestly, you must succeed — 

 failure is out of the question. 



We should encourage the association or community spirit in our 

 work. When we go into the general market we find the different 

 interests co-operating against us. The railroads agree together as to 

 the rates they will charge for carrying our produce to and from the 

 distributing centers. The commission men agree as to the rates they 

 will charge for selling, and where they find men working single- 

 handed, they fix the price at which they must sell. W^hen the men of 

 a certain district work together, study business methods together, 

 study the crop and market reports together and stand together for 



