No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 557 



a view to placing their product where it will be most highly appre- 

 ciated. 



The}' should make the same careful, systematic study of the 

 dealers in the different markets, and select one man in each to handle 

 their product. That selection should only be made after a careful 

 personal investigation of men and methods on the ground. No 

 money that is spent will yield a better percentage of profit than that 

 which is spent in personally investigating the men who are to handle 

 our crops. The fruit from each district should if possible be brought 

 to a central packing house, and be packed under the direction of one 

 expert packer. 



Another important matter for the organization to consider, is the 

 proper disposal of windfalls and culls, by turning them into some 

 kind of manufacturing product, and also the question of cold storage. 

 It is now universally admitted that the most important matter con- 

 nected with cold storage (next to having perfect fruit) is to get the 

 fruit into the cold room at the earliest possible moment after it has 

 taken from the tree. 



My idea as to horticultural organizations — briefly stated — is this: 

 Each district should have its county society, which should be an or- 

 ganization for business, to meet at least once a month, preferably on 

 the grounds of one of the members, taking each in turn, and there 

 discuss all these questions of location and varieties, methods of 

 pruning, cultivation and fertilization, insect pests, diseases, market- 

 ing, etc. 



Then all of these county organizations should meet once a year as 

 the State Society, and consider questions of interest to all parts of 

 the State, such as legislation needed, the proper enforcement of the 

 laws we have, the advance that has been made in science relating to 

 Horticulture — and just here I would say it is of the utmost import- 

 ance that we keep in close touch with the Experiment Stations, not 

 only our own, but those of other states, that may be experimenting 

 along horticultural lines. The benefits they have already rendered 

 us by giving us more accurate knowledge of our business in all its 

 details can not be estimated in dollars and cents, and we shall need 

 their aid all the more as the years go on. 



In this connection I want to call your attention to a bill that has 

 been introduced in the present Congress by Mr. Adams, of Wiscon- 

 sin, providing for an increase in the annual appropriation to Experi- 

 ment Stations. 



The total appropriation involved this year for all the Stations in 

 the United States together is $240,000. Til.' Adams 1 bill provides 

 for an annual increase in the appropriation until it shall reach the 

 sum of |720,000. In view of the great benefit we have already re- 

 ceived from the work of these Stations, and the large field still open 

 for agricultural investigation and experiment, I think we should give 

 this measure our hearty support, not only as an organization, but as 

 individuals. 



Now I want to repeat here what I have said on several other occa- 

 sions. If you want to see this society flourish, you must not depend 

 entirely on vour officers. Tin v will do what they can. but the success 

 of any organization depends upon the earnest, active endeavor of 

 each individual member. We want every one interested in fruit or 

 flowers or ornamental plants in the State to join with us, and we can 



