66 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



upon sciences bearing more or less directly npon horticulture, among which we 

 may especially note botany, entomology and meteorology. 



The much that the society has found to employ its energies during its com- 

 paratively brief existence, and the many broad but unoccupied fields upon 

 which it has been so far unable to enter, reminds us strongly of the death-bed 

 remark of Sir Isaac Newton, who, at the close of his busy and eminently suc- 

 cessful life, is said to have remarked: ^'I seem like a child that has amused 

 itself by gathering a few of the most beautiful pebbles upon the beach, while 

 the immense ocean lay undiscovered beyond." 



The field is indeed broad ! too broad for the narrow means, and the merely 

 volunteer energies at the command of the society. Were it able so to do, it 

 could very profitably expend means as the Iowa society has done, in the prepara- 

 tion of a set oifac similes of the fruit and vegetable products of tiie State, for 

 use upon occasion in the study, comparison and identification of varieties when 

 out of season, or otherwise not accessible. 



It could very properly and profitably enter upon the collection and classifica- 

 tion of the indigenous, and possibly even the introduced vegetable products of 

 the State; also specimens of the valuable woods for which our native forests 

 are noted, as well as the many that would be valuable as indications of the 

 capacity of our soils and climate for other purposes. It could indeed, with 

 great propriety, collect specimens of soils in connection with the plants indi- 

 genous to them, as well as statistics of the local peculiarities of climate ; in- 

 cluding averages and also extremes of temperature and rainfall occurring in 

 connection "witii them ; deducing from the whole, conclusions as to the agri- 

 cultural and pomological capacities of such region. 



Much more mio;ht, and doubtless ouo-ht to be done in the wav of educatins: 

 our land owners as to the most economical and effective arrangement of wood- 

 lands in connection with cleared fields, and even the proper location and man- 

 agement of artificial timber plantations, as a means of holding in check the 

 unfavorable and often even calamitous changes of climate, consequent upon 

 the extensive clearing away of our forests, and the opening up of farms. 



Much might doubtless be accomplished in general aid of these various ob- 

 jects, in the mere accumulation and arrangement of a library of reference; 

 and this the society could easily and rapidly do, in nart at least, under its ex- 

 isting system of exchanges with both sections and individuals; but for this cir- 

 cumstance so naturally resulting from the semi-cosmopolitan character, that it 

 has no place that can be designated as its " head-({uarters." 



It may seem a useless waste of time to indulge in the enumeration of the 

 many fields of profitable labor that invite the efforts of the society, but which 

 demand more expensive or continuous efforts than are found practicable under 

 its system of voluntary unpaid labor ; hence these suggestions have been in- 

 dulged rather as the warrant for a few remarks as to the importance to the 

 state of an elaboration of some at least, of tliese sources of information, with 

 the probable result of bringing to light sources of wealtii to the people, and 

 hence to the state ; accompanying the same with some suggestions of possible 

 modes by which such results may be reached, either independently, or in con- 

 nection with processes already in progress. 



The most obvious and natural source from which to anticipate this kind of 

 work, would be tlie State Board of -Agriculture, or ])o.-sibly the Agricultural 

 College under its directi(jn ; but unfortunately for sucli purpoe^e, they are not 

 charged with such work, nor are they provided with eitlier the force or the 



