144 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A BUREAU OF POMOLOGY. 



Mr. H. E. Van Deman, Pomologist to the U. S. Department of Horticulture, 

 read a paper on this subject. He said congress had passed an act establishing 

 pomology as a division of the Department of Agriculture, directing the com- 

 missioner to appoint a pomologist, and appropriating, besides his salary, $3,000 

 to be used in carrying on the work of the division this year. He then men- 

 tioned several things that ought to be done by that division when appropria- 

 tions shall warrant it. Experiment stations should be established and main- 

 tained where they will serve the greatest number at least cost. The gathering 

 of statistics of the pomological industry of the United States, and of informa- 

 tion that would help to extend the markets. Investigations of the value of 

 new fruits and old ones of special interest, and their adaptability to the various 

 sections. Perhaps it might be well to collect and arrange a cabinet of models, 

 accurately representing the size, shape and color of the fruits of the United 

 States, a written description of each fruit accompanying the model, together 

 with that of the plant and foliage. Every member of the society should write 

 to his member of congress, urging action in the direction indicated. 



W. H. Ragan, of Indiana: Horticulturists are suspicious of everything 

 mixed with politics. 



P. C. Reynolds, of New York : The wonderful advancement made in horti- 

 culture in this country for the last thirty years is mainly the result of individ- 

 ual efforts, assisted by voluntary societies. Do gentlemen believe the advance 

 would have been more rapid had we been aided by the United States Govern- 

 ment? We have not been entirely neglected by the general government. For 

 many years there have been connected with the Department of Agriculture a 

 division of Entomology and one of Botany. Prof. Riley has ably filled the 

 former, and there has not a new insect, destructive of horticultural or agricult- 

 ural products, appeared in any portion of the country, to which the attention 

 of Prof. Riley has been called, but what he has investigated it, named it, de- 

 scribed its appearance, history, mode of propagation, food products, prevent- 

 ives and remedies, etc., and tiie description, with illustrations and colored 

 plates, have appeared in the reports of the Department of Agriculture from 

 year to year. Just so the Botanist has examined all new plants, grains, vege- 

 tables and fruits, and descriptions and illustrations have been published in the 

 reports. Yet, how many practical farmers and horticulturists have carefully 

 read and preserved those reports ? But few, he would venture to assert. And 

 how many of the class for which they would be designed would ever visit Wash- 

 ington and examine a cabinet of models of fruits ? One of the purposes of the 

 Department of Agriculture is the distribution of new, rare seeds among farm- 

 ers and horticulturists. The operation has been mercilessly ridiculed by the 

 press, and yet we are informed that the present Commissioner has no intention 

 of discontinuing it; he is not, we are told, disposed to take the bull by the 

 horns. Now we will suggest a way by which this expenditure may be made val- 

 uable to those for whom it is ostensibly intended : Let the Commissioner ex- 

 pend the money appropriated for seeds in purchasing really new and rare 

 seeds that have a promise of value, and see that they are distributed among 

 those who will probably make good use of them; not expend it in purchasing 

 of seedsmen stale lots of old seeds that gardeners have grown for years* many 

 of which they have long since discarded. 



Mr. Hubbard, of New York, said we should cooperate with the department, 



