48 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



will be the more obvious by stating that not only has the division a corps 

 of pomological experts, but that these experts are constantly receiving 

 specimens from all parts of the country both under name and for indenti- 

 fication and estimation, thus keeping well up with results throughout the 

 country; and that, as an additional aid in identification, a museum of wax 

 specimens, modeled and colored from nature and including specimens and 

 the same variety grown in various soils and climates, is being prepared, 

 which will be shown at the coming Columbian Exposition, after which it 

 is to be arranged in the rooms of the division, to be used for purposes of 

 comparison and identification. 



With this brief statement of the matter, I add the suggestion that" 1 the 

 entire subject receive consideration, by reference to a committee or other- 

 wise, with the purpose of considering what action is desirable, and, if the 

 proposition shall seem desirable, to devise and report the proper action to 

 be taken. 



Wednesday Morning Session. 



The Wednesday morning session was called to order by President Lyon 

 who introduced Mr. Wm. A. Taylor, formerly of Douglas, Mich., but now 

 Assistant Pomologist of the United States Department of Agriculture who 

 read the following paper: 



WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS DOING FOR 



HORTICULTURE. 



" It is very generally believed by the farming public that the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture is doing a good work in behalf of our agricultural 

 interests. 



The voice of the people as expressed through utterances of representa- 

 tive farmers and through the columns of the agricultural press, indicates 

 a lively interest in its work and a general approval of methods employed 

 and results accomplished. ^ 



The great livestock and grain-growing interests have special reason for 

 satisfaction with what has in recent years been done for them by the eradi- 

 cation of dangerous diseases and the publication of reliable statistics and 

 crop reports. Though often hampered by lack of sufficient appropriation 

 and by frequent changes of policy, the history of governmental work in 

 the interest of agriculture, since its beginning in 1840, shows almost con- 

 stant progress and widening of field. During recent years, in consequent 

 of more liberal appropriations and the more judicious application of effort, 

 made possible by the rapid advances in agricultural science, the progress 

 has been particularly gratifying. 



Though the attention given to topics relating strictly to horticulture 

 has beeen comparatively small, there has been much accomplished in the 

 past, as will be found by reference to the reports issued in previous years. 

 For a time, experimental work was carried on and lists of varieties of fruits 

 and vegetables were made, and reports published, together with cultural 

 directions and advice concerning special crops. This work has been 

 mainly abandoned in consequence of a lack of proper facilities and the 



