THE SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 



There are a number of considerations that lead me to continue the Secre- 

 tary's Portfolio as a regular department of the Michigan volumes of horti- 

 culture. During the course of the year I receive a great many inquiries 

 concerning matters which reach into every section of horticulture and 

 forestry. Through the courtesy of the leading agricultural and horticultural 

 publications in our country I receive regularly a large number of the best 

 authorities, and in them I find answers to a majority of these queries. I 

 save these articles and reason that a question that one person may ask may 

 be agitating the mind of a good many who do not take many periodicals but 

 who do get the Michigan horticultural report. And I undertake to reach 

 these people with the cream of horticultural literature for the year by placing 

 it here in the most convenient form for ready reference. In my own case, 

 engaged as I am in practical horticulture, I find these collections of incal- 

 culable advantage. 



Again, we are very apt all of us to become absorbed in one branch of 

 horticulture to the exclusion of all others ; and I desire very much that our 

 fruit growers shall become better acquainted with the progressive work 

 accomplishing in all the other divisions, which are just as important as 

 pomology. The same is true with reference to gardeners and florists. 



It is true that each season valuable suggestions are made in each depart- 

 ment of horticulture that are nearly lost unless made public property; 

 suggestions that possibly we may wonder why we had not thought out our- 

 selves, but none the less useful because so simple. 



I have had in mind also in the preparation of this collection the importance 

 of popularizing the delicate and interesting operations in horticulture that 

 they may become attractive to students, and especially to women and children 

 and those in delicate health ; for I earnestly believe there is no occupation 

 in the world that may be made so delightful and captivating as horticul- 

 ture. 



Once more I have not forgotten in culling and abstracting these selections 

 that a large proportion of our population are wage-workers, and I desire 



