262 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



different flowers on the same plant. Again, it produces the same flower. 

 Reasoning from analogy, if we propagate by budding from the nursery 

 row, we would be propagating from buds; that would be just the same as 

 attempting to produce a brood of animals from very young parents, say 

 four- or five-year-old children; if we propagated the human family for a 

 great length of time from as immature specimens as that, the race would 

 deteriorate. Isn't that the same reasoning? My thinking is that a 

 mature individual of the human family bears the same relation in the 

 propagation of species that the mature bud does, from fruit-bearing trees. 

 Mr. Harrison : If a bud don't mature in one year, when does it mature? 



OFFICIAL REPORTS. 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



To the Officers and Memhers of the Michigan State Horticultural Society: 



The year which is so nearly passed has been to Michigan horticulture one of 

 most peculiar experiences, and has not been without notable and advantageous 

 results. So far as this society is concerned, it has marked what we all hope will 

 be the beginning of a new era of great usefulness, because it is the beginning of 

 new strength. While there has not been more than the usual spirit and energy 

 manifested by the local societies, they have maintained their organizations, with, 

 the exception of one, that of Eaton Rapids, which has succumbed to lack of interest 

 there in purely horticultural work, and has become a farmers' club. On the 

 other hand, new societies were formed at Gobleville and Ludington, the latter 

 taking the place of one which had become extinct. There are now eighteen societies 

 in thf state in active operation, though some of them should manifest a little 

 more life than they seem to possess. That at Ann Arbor is inactive because of 

 unfortunate complications arising from co-operative shipment of fruit to Detroit, 

 differences of some kind arising which should be harmonized without so far- 

 reaching results as the disbandment of one of the oldest and most useful societies 

 in the state. Such was the unlovely condition of things at last advices. All but twO' 

 of these recognize auxiliary fealty to the state society. It is hoped that these will 

 do so under the new conditions. 



The conditions referred to are the waiving of fees from the local societies to 

 this organization, so that auxiliary membership carries with it nearly all the bene- 

 fits heretofore conferred, while exacting no tribute in return. The only difference 

 is that such membership does not now carry with it the right to vote at thesfr 

 annual meetings in the choice of officers. It was deemed best to keep a member- 

 ship fee for the state society, and this right of suffrage was necessary as a recom- 

 pense. It simply is a return to the original state of the society before the auxil- 

 iary plan was developed. 



This change, this relief of the local societies from helping maintain the state 

 organization, has been made possible by the action of the legislature, last winter, 

 in giving the society an appropriation of $1,500 per year for two years, for its 

 expenses in holding meetings and publishing its reports. As is well known, up to 

 this time the society has had to bear all expenses of this kind except the printing 

 of the volumes. It was deemed but right that Michigan, with its all but unequaled 

 horticultural advantages, should treat its horticultural society in some degree as 

 do other states. That we show forth fruits meet for the expenditure is a part of 

 our duties at this meeting. 



At the meeting at Ti-averse City, in September, it was determined to change the 

 time of our annual meeting back to the first week in December, the departure, a 

 few years ago, from that date, being due to an effort to secure reduced rates of 

 railway fare common at the holiday season. But it was found that the plan would 

 work but once in seven years, when Christmas falls on Sunday. 



