386 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



opener to many of the farmers, and they immediately began to look around for 

 improved stock ; and I believe they have been improving ever since. 



In every department the fair was a success. Financially it was a success. 

 After paying all the bills, expenses and premiums, we had about $1,360 in the 

 treasury. 



The constitution of the society, Article IX., siid, " No officer of this society 

 shall receive any compensation for his services." Of course we all worked for 

 the love of working in so good a cause. 



WHAT A STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY SHOULD BE. 



My own idea of what a State agricultural society should be, and the idea 

 with which I started, has never been fully carried out. It was my wish in the 

 beginning that the society should have a 



CENTRAL OFFICE, 



where should be established an Agricultural Library, Museum, and Reading 

 Room, where could be found all the standard agricultural books, papers and 

 magazines, models and specimens of agricultural machinery, implements, etc., 

 specimens of agricultural and horticultural products, and general information 

 upon subjects connected with agriculture and horticulture. This place, 

 wherever located, should be the headquarters of the society and the office of 

 the secretary. His salary should be sufficient for his support, so that he could 

 give his whole time to the work of the society. The care of and the business 

 connected with such a central office would occupy the time of one person cer- 

 tainly, and probably more. 



Some of these last remarks will apply to the Michigan State Pomological 

 Society. If this society had permanent headquarters, located at a point that 

 would be the most accessible to fruit-growers of the State, where could be 

 found a collection of specimens of insects that are injurious, and insects bene- 

 ficial to vegetation, with a catalogue of their names, giving a full description 

 of the insects, their history and habits, methods of ridding our premises of the 

 destructive, and of protecting those that are beneficial ; also a collection of 

 birds, with their history and habits; models of fruits ; a horticultural library, 

 etc., the benefit to the people of this fruit-producing State would be incal- 

 culable. 



I hope to see this Pomological association increase in numbers and in funds, 

 that it may increase in usefulness. 



