46 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



hairs that allow the air to buoy them up and scatter them for miles around. 

 There is also a large number of plants known as " tumble weeds " in whick 

 the fruit stalk, or at least the fruiting portion of it, bearing hundreds of 

 seeds, breaks off and rolls along over the ground, scattering its seeds as it 

 goes. Other seeds stick to the feet of animals or have special organs by 

 which they fasten themselves to the clothing of man and the fur of beasts. 

 It will thus be seen that the real function of our flowers is the produc- 

 tion of seed to perpetuate the species, and in the arrangement of the dif- 

 ferent parts, everything "from blossom to fruit' 1 is arranged for carrying 

 out this object, and for the dissemination of the seed. 



Another pleasing selection was rendered by the quartet, who upon 

 retiring were, with Miss Miller, for her recitations, given a vote of thanks. 



Adjournment till nine o'clock a. ni., was taken after President Lyon had 

 read the paper here appended upon 



# 



CO-OPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Down to the pei-iod of Col. Cglman's incumbency of the commissioner- 

 ship of agriculture, the position had been generally occupied by persons 

 slightly, if at all, in sympathy with pomology or even with horticulture in 

 its more general sense. Upon his appointment, however, his well-known 

 sympathy with horticulture (which, at the west means, in large measure, 

 pomology), led to the prompt institution and organization of the present 

 division of pomology, a division which, although sadly hampered by 

 insufficient appropriations and inadequate space, has already developed 

 many valuable results and has done and is doing very much to build up 

 and systematize the pomological interests of our country, which, however, 

 are so intimately blended with those of general horticulture that it proves 

 true in practice that the general result of its legitimate work inures largely 

 to the benefit of horticulture as a whole. 



As a first and radically essential measure, the division needs to be 

 brought into intimate relationship with the horticulturists, and especially 

 with the pomologists of the country at large, to enable it to properly com- 

 prehend the needs of those interested in this specialty, and to become 

 familiar with accomplished resutts, as guides in its efforts for further 

 improvement. As a means to this end the following circular has been 

 put forth and a special agent charged with the working out of the desired 

 result: 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, Division of Pomology, ( 

 Washington, D. O, November 1, 1891. S 



To the Horticultural Societies of the United States: 



As a means of securing concerted and mutually beneticial action between the depart- 

 ment and persons interested in pomology and kindred subjects throughout the country, 

 it is suggested: 



First, That, through the State Horticultural society or similar organization, pro- 

 vision be made in each state and territory for supplying to the department, for the 

 division of pomology, a complete and annually corrected list of officers and members of 

 state and local organizations of fruitgrowers, with their postoffice addresses and the 

 specialties in which they are interested. 



Second, That the secretary of each state society send to the department, for the 

 division, as soon as determined, the name of the place and the date of each meeting, 

 and, as soon as issued, the programme for the meeting. 



Third, That each society, state and local, supply the names and addresses of mem- 

 bers of a standing committee, consisting of reliable and experienced fruitgrowers, to 



