24 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETr. 



for nothing at a meeting of this society. Wherever one of these institutes 

 occur in a fruitgrowing region, most or all of the programme is devoted to 

 horticultural interests. This takes the place to that extent of the work of 

 this society. The state of Michigan, with her plethoric treasury, is becom- 

 ing a competitor of ours, and in such an uneven contest we shall with 

 difficulty hold our own. 



If, when applying to some horticulturist of high standing, for a paper or 

 lecture before this society, 1 could say, " your expenses will be paid," or 

 ^' your expenses and $25 will be given for this service," as may now be done 

 by the institute managers, the results would be very different, I assure you, 

 from the polite declinations which I all too often receive. 



So, if hereafter you look over the programmes and miss the great names 

 ihat erstwhile adorned them, I beg of you, call to mind this little tale of the 

 frank and furious west: In a certain frontier mining camp, up back of the 

 solitary and execrable musician, was posted this legend: " Don't shoot the 

 fiddler; he's doing the best he can." 



Proceeding from consideration of matters of legislation, the society 

 listened to the following suggestions by President Lyon, concerning a 

 possible exhibit of fruits of 1893, by the societies of Michigan at the 

 Columbian exposition: 



FOR A SOCIETY EXHIBIT OF FRUITS, ETC., AT THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION. 



1. Articles to be donated and prepared for transportation free of 

 charge. 



2. The transportation, reception, placing and after care of the exhibit, 

 to be paid from the fund heretofore set apart for such purpose, by the 

 state commissioners, together with the shelving or other fixtures needful 

 for the purpose. 



8. The cards or labels should contain the name and address of the con- 

 tributors, together with that of the local society, the name of the parent 

 society only appearing upon a general sign. 



4. Each local or auxiliary society should select a committee of efficient 

 persons, charged with the work of effecting, in advance, special engage- 

 ments for the fruits needful to fill an agreed space, and for the renewal 

 of the same as shall be necessary. 



5. No entry for award shall be made by the State Horticultural 

 society, such entries being made by the local societies or by individuals 

 only. 



6. The local society receiving the greatest number of awards (or such 

 as shall indicate the highest degree of merit, as the case may be), shall be 

 entitled to one hundred volumes of the transactions of the state society, 

 over and above the number due to memberships; and to each of the 

 others, a pro rata of that number, based upon the comparative number or 

 value of their several awards, in addition to which each shall be entitled 

 to the society's diploma, specifying the awards received, and so far as 

 practicable, the exhibits upon which they were severally rendered. 



BUT HOW CAN ALL THIS BE DONE? 



Mr. Garfield: Mr. Lyon is chairman of the committee on horticult- 

 ure, appointed by the state commission; and if the money is in his hands 



