272 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



society, but each week an epitome of the proceedings is sent out over the coun- 

 try as a bulletin and is incorporated very largely into the rural press. 



The exhibitions of the society, held at stated intervals, are the finest in the 

 country and are stimulated by the liberal offerings in prizes and gratuities. 



The following letter from Secretary Robert Manning will be of interest to 

 the readers of this volume: 



"Your letter of the 18th came duly to hand. I really do not see that 

 there is a great deal to tell you in regard to the method pursued in 

 disseminating information in horticulture by this society, more than 

 you know already, or can be learned from its publications. The chief 

 means relied on are the exhibitions, which set before a large number 

 of persons object lessons in the form of horticultural products, and by this we 

 do not mean merely fruit, but plants, flowers and vegetables. The schedule of 

 prizes will inform you what we attempt and the reports of committees, publish- 

 ed in the transactions, will show how we succeed. 



"Next to the exhibitions are the meetings for discussion, as a means of diffus- 

 ing information. The library is one of the most valuable means of obtaining 

 and diffusing information. It is the best horticultural library in this country, 

 and, so far as we know, there is no better one in the world. Only members 

 can take out books, but no one is ever refused the opportunity to consult the 

 books in the library room. The spring rose, annual, and chrysanthemum 

 exhibitions are not free but the admission fee is only 25 cents and all the others 

 can be seen by any one without money and without price. 



"These three are the principal means used for the advancement of horticul- 

 ture by this society. We have not in fifty-seven years discovered any royal road 

 to the acquisition of horticultural knowledge." 



