76 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



feel sure that the rising generation will give due consideration to this 

 important industry. 



We urge this Society to carry out this educational plan with dili- 

 gence, for we believe it to be the most important of all her past under- 

 takings. I never have been impressed with a duty which I thought 

 was laden with such far-reaching results. While it is true that your 

 committee make no pretentions to be otherwise than very common 

 toilers in the horticultural vineyard, yet of this we are aware that we 

 liave no divinely inspired writers upon this subject. 



We also know that long years of experience and many attempts 

 and fruitless efforts to do things contrary to the best plan, have finan- 

 cially ruined many men and discouraged thousands more, and what is 

 perhaps worse than all, have left the resources of the State undeveloped, 

 and its inhabitants in want, and hungry for that which we well might have. 



Then we also know that although others who follow us may be 

 wiser and more talented than we, yet they can never be such unless 

 they have first gone over the same road that we have thus far come. 

 So I feel that our position should be sustained; that the Society should 

 hold up our hands; that we should be allowed to do the best we can, 

 and if nothing more is done, we can prepare the way for brighter days 

 for those who may follow us. And this fact should encourage us not 

 a little, because they who follow us will be our children and our 

 children's children. 



WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. 



One year ago we committed to type the result of a years work. 

 It is embodied in the report of '93. Our second years work is well in 

 progress. We are of necessity proceeding slowly for many reasons, 

 which are well known to the Society and to the comuiittee. In the 

 first place the work is new to us all. We have to find out where our 

 friends are, and who can help us along special lines of investigation. 

 Our field is large. Our forces are scattered. It takes time to enlist 

 the energies of men in any subject, and especially do we find that our 

 friends who are possessed' of the required knowledge we desire, 

 must convey to us what we would know by correspondence. If we 

 could talk to them we could make more rapid progress. But greatness 

 is always of small growth, and we feel safe in saying that the good 

 influences that will result from the systematic pursuit of the work, 

 and the presentation of a hand book of horticultural knowledge to 

 the people of this State will never be called small by those who are 

 capable to comprehend it. Finally to make our work felt in all its 

 grandeur, it must go before the whole people of the State for their 

 approval. Knowledge to be appreciated and efficient must run along 



