FORTIETH ANNUAL REPORT. 45 



of vetch seed, depending on how good the seed is and how mneh other 

 stuff there is in it. 



A Member— I am much of the same opinion as Mi\ Hilton in regard 

 to cover croi> — I ])refer barley. Of the three, rye, oats and barley, I think 

 barley is the best. I am not so sure but what the spring rye is very 

 good. I tried it this year for the first time. The fall rye did not 

 stand up as it should, but the spring rye grew up rank and headed 

 out fine this fall. That Avould be out of the way for the yetch in the 

 spring. 



A Member — ^^"etch with us has not been so satisfactory on clay. We 

 have spots on side hills where there was considerable red clay and the 

 vetches have not set unless there was a. lot of humus on the clay — then 

 the vetch is alright. In regard to the rye and oats — you come to an 

 apple orchard and you do not Avant oats there at haiwest time for the 

 dew will make it so you will be wading around in water, because it 

 will not dry out. 



Q. Why will not Mammoth clover do alright? 



Mr. Smythe — 1 think it Avould be alright provided you can get a 

 stand. Our people here in this vicinity have found it difficult to get a 

 stand. Of course there is not so large a per cent of nitrogen in Mam- 

 moth clover as in vetch, and the vetch seed being so much larger, it 

 stands the drouth better than the clover seed. If it once germinates it 

 will grow. 



ANNUAL REPORT OF SECRETARY BASSETT. 



I am glad to be able to announce that the Michigan State Horti- 

 cultural Society now has the largest membership in its histor}' — over 

 300 life members, 600 annual members and over 1050 auxiliary mem- 

 bers, a total of over 2,000 members. Interest in Michigan horticulture 

 never was so active and progressive and the educational work now laid 

 out by the Executive Board must bring results that will be very grati- 

 fying to the members as well as profitable to the State. 



During the past year your Secretar}' has organized eight new auxil- 

 iary societies, with a total charter membership of nearly 1,000. He 

 has made 24 visits to different fruit sections in Michigan and has as 

 sisted in four horticultural meetings in other states. No state society 

 with which I am acquainted is attempting more for the good of its 

 members than is our own and if all would preach our mission of ''More 

 and Better Fruit in Michigan" we would soon awaken an interest that 

 would accomplish more for our State than can be expected from any 

 similar enter]>rise now before our people. Not but a few of the people 

 know what the State Society is doing and it is the duty of eveiy 

 present member to urge all to enlist under its banner. 



In regard to our co-operative buying plan, I submit that it cannot 

 well be carried on without running up against occasional snags, and we 

 have had a lot of them the past year. However, we have learned much 

 from our experience which we hope will be of much benefit to us in the 

 future, which will assist in perfecting our plan so that we will be able 

 to do better work, and save the growers a, large sum of money. 



While I am not able to give you a direct report on the amount of 

 business transacted by our Association during the past year, as that is a 

 matter which is still unsettled, I can state in a general way that, as near 



