AVORK OF THE SOCIETIES OF OTHER STATES. ,'201 



Prof. S. A. Forbes, wlio is chairnKui of the committee on Ornithology, is 

 doinf^ a greiit work and the one in which, perhaps, this society is most inter- 

 ested at present. Mr. Gulusha in speaking of it says : 



** The work of Prof. Porbes — see chart — has been continued and is to be 

 continued until tlie vahie or detriment of birds of all species in the State is 

 determined. It is the most thorough work in this direction ever done in 

 America if not in the world." 



The work consists in making careful personal examinations of all the birds 

 that frequent the State, and classifying the food of the various species and 

 families. The chart, referred to above by Mr. Galusha, is an epitome of this 

 work, and shows that 277 specimens have been examined, covering nearly a 

 liundred distinct species. 



The society was first organized in 1857, and by enactment of the Legisla- 

 ture reorganized in 1871. 



An annual appropriation of $1,500 by the State is made to the society. The 

 annual membership is about one hundred; aside from this there are life and 

 honorary members. One feature of the constitution is that all wives of mem- 

 bers are members of the society without fee. The life membership fee is 

 twenty dollars, and the annual fee one dollar. 



The society is now in fine working condition, and pervaded by a spirit of 

 enthusiasm and earnestness. 



MINJN^ESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



We are indebted to Secretary Charles Y. Lacy for a copy of the Transactions 

 of this society, together with a letter of answers to our inquiries from which 

 the following is gleaned. 



The society was organized in 186G and holds annual meetings for discussions, 

 gathering and disseminating information. An executive committee elected 

 annually look after the business interests of the society, and the State appro- 

 priates $500 annually to cover the cost of printing the Transactions. 



The special work accomplishing now by the society is the collection of 

 accurate horticultural statistics from all parts of the State. 



The membership varies, but averages not far from sixty. 



The Society is now accomplishing a steady, earnest work, and although there 

 is not a high pitch of enthusiasm exhibited in the reports of its meetings, still 

 it is gaining ground and developing an interest in " the art which does mend 

 nature." Like other western societies, this one is controlled and rendered use- 

 ful by men who are engaged in business every day, and take a little time with 

 the association as a sort of relaxation from other duties. There are no men of 

 leisure who can devote tliemselves exclusivelv to the interests of horticulture. 



