26 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



It is matter of regret that no facilities are at hand for obtaining anything 

 like a reliable estimate of the value of the fruit crop of the whole state. 

 We shall listen with interest to the plan Mr. Hewitt shall unfold at 

 this meeting for a betterment of this unfortunate condition. 



COOPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. C. W. Garfield of Grand Rapids: Secretary Willits said to me 

 he would provide each auxiliary society five copies each of the reports and 

 bulletins of the department, including the Agricultural Report, the Record 

 of Experiment Stations, Journal of Mycology, monthly crop reports, the 

 several publications concerning entomology and botany, and various 

 others. These will be sent to the secretary of each local society, and may 

 be distributed among the members or in whole or part kept for reference 

 or use as a library. 



Mr. L. B. Rice of Port Huron moved that this society accept the 

 proposal of the department of agriculture. The motion was carried. 



Prof. L. R. Taft of Michigan Agricultural College: I have all these 

 publications and value them very highly, especially the Record of Experi- 

 ment Stations, and they could not fail to be of great benefit to the local 

 societies. 



President Lyon: The making of fac similes in wax, of all varieties of 

 fruits, will be of greatest importance and value especially in identification 

 of fruits. By comparison it can readily be determined whether varieties 

 offered as new really are so or only old sorts under new names and offered 

 at high prices. 



Mr. J. F. Taylor of Douglas: It seems to me that circulation of these 

 publications, as a library, would prove impracticable; but to have them at 

 a given place, for reference, if not enough could be had to provide one for 

 each member, would be of the highest importance and advantage to 

 fruitgrowers. 



Mr. C. J. Monroe of South Haven: It will bring within reach of the 

 fruitgrower information that has heretofore been gathered into large books 

 only and has not been accessible, such things as investigation of yellows 

 and other diseases, of injurious insects, etc. This plan will get all this 

 information out where it is available and will be needed. 



Mr. Garfield: There is a growing demand upon the department of 

 agriculture for importation of new fruits, seeds, and scions, and by this 

 plan they will be gotten out quickly and into the hands of widely separated 

 growers, so providing for prompt tests of them under varying conditions. 



treasurer's report. 



The subjoined report of Treasurer Pearsall was read, showing the 

 same financial condition as stated by the secretary. Messrs. L. B. Rice, 



