No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 361 



fruit, if any, nearly always goes begging for a market, and in many 

 cases does not cover cost of marketing. 



If there is any truth in the saying that the "big fish eat the little 

 fish," I feel sure it can be truthfully said to hold in fruit culture on 

 account of the scale. 



In conclusion, will say that while the fruit, not properly grown, 

 goes begging for a market and has a tendency to lower the market 

 for the better class of fruit, yet there is absolutely no reason to 

 feel discouraged, for as long as people eat, fruit growers will find 

 ready for sale for their products at remunerative prices. 



A Member: Mr. Chairman, I regard it as a very excellent report; 

 [ do not know what the custom is as to the adoption of it, but I 

 think it is a report which we ought to be proud of. 



On motion, the report was ordered received and placed on file. 



The SECRETARY: In regard to the election of officers, perhaps 

 it will be necessary for me to make some explanation. Our meet- 

 ing was called to convene on Tuesday instead of Wednesday, for 

 the reason that I received from a number of members of the Board 

 communications suggesting that it would be a good thing to have 

 the meeting of the State Board convene the same week with the Live 

 Stock Breeders' Association. The first communication that I re- 

 ceived in regard to this matter was from Mr. Bayard, the Secretary 

 of the Live Stock Breeders' Association, and afterwards I received 

 communications from a number of members of the Board suggesting 

 that we have a kind of joint meeting, so that the members of each 

 Board, the State Board of Agriculture and the Live Stock Breeders' 

 Association, could have the advantage of the discussions at the two 

 meetings. 



In order that this might be accomplished, it waa necessary for 

 us to begin our meeting on Tuesday instead of Wednesday; and you 

 will observe that the act of Assembly creating the Board provides 

 that one-third its members shall go out of ofiice on the fourth Wed- 

 nesday of January in each year. If we should proceed to the 

 election of officers at this time, the persons who are here as mem- 

 bers-elect would not have the right to vote, because they do not 

 succeed to their positions upon the membership of the Board until 

 the others go out, which will be to-morrow, and I think, possibly, 

 it would be better if this matter of the election of officers were to 

 be postponed until to-morrow, so that no question could be raised 

 hereafter as to the legality of the proceedings of the Board. 



I make this suggestion and then the Board can do just as they 

 think best in regard to the matter. 



MR. HERR: Mr. Chairman, I move you that to-morrow morning 

 at 9 o'clock be the hour fixed for the election of officers. 



The motion was seconded by the Secretary, and the question being 

 put, it was agreed to. 



The CHAIR: The next order on the program is Unfinished Busi- 

 ness. Is there anything to be brought before this Board in that 

 line? There does not seem to be. 



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