4 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



thanks, no public recognition of the grand result, hence little or no stimulus to 

 newcomers and new members. For the last year or two there has been a little 

 revival, as it were, but yet, as ever, the work rests on the shoulders of a few un- 

 tiring souls, with no thanks from the masses or concern about the matter. Why 

 is this true of Adrian more than other towns ? do you ask. I answer it is not. 

 The same is true of all communities where there is no dollar at the goal. Show 

 to us, by any means, that there is money in it, and local horticultural societies 

 will nourish. 



DISCUSSION. 



C. J. Monroe — It seems to me that there is money in these horticultural socie- 

 ties, and that they should be sustained on that account. I believe that the 

 wonderful increase in fruit production in parts of our State is due largely to 

 these societies. But there is much more that they may do. We need to meet 

 together to devise ways to increase the quality of our fruits and to preserve them 

 so as to prolong the supply through the season. I believe the latter one of the 

 important questions of apple growing especially. This becomes of more impor- 

 tance in view of the recent cold waves in the South, cuttiug off much of the 

 fruit supply from that direction, an evil which is likely to increase with the re- 

 moval of our forests. 



S. M. Pearsall — If, when I came to Michigan, I had known one-half that I 

 now know about fruit growing, it would have saved me many mistakes. He 

 urged the importance of societies taking strong ground against dishonest 

 packing. 



C. W. Garfield — Our Grand Eiver Valley Society has its waves of prosperity 

 and depression. The people who carry it on occasionally get tired. I am satis- 

 fied that success lies in interesting the younger people. We are now about 

 making an effort to interest professional people and ladies. We believe we can 

 show that horticulture touches nearly every one. 



Mr. Cole — The boys are going where they will be interested. You have got 

 to get down where the boys are. There are some things that they do know, and 

 we must draw them out on those. Mix in something in the meetings that the 

 boys and girls are interested in, then they will take hold. 



E. Baur — We make the Washtenaw Society a success by publishing the topics 

 in advance. 



W. W. Farnsworth — Our society has been in operation fifteen years. We 

 found it difficult to get the ladies to take part. We now have three sections, 

 one for the men, one for the ladies and another for the young folks. We meet 

 from place to place and our exercises are largely of a general and social nature. 



D. Woodward — I have found in the Lenawee Society that, to keep up the 

 interest, it is important to begin on time. 



METHODS OF BUYING AND SELLING TREES AND PLANTS. 

 B. W. STEERE, ADRIAN, MICHIGAN. 



It seems difficult to touch this subject without plunging at once into the old 

 hackneyed theme of tree agents. It will hardly do to call them all rascals, as 



