THE ANNUAL MEETING. 159 



charged with lack of proper discrimination in the disposal of them. Although, 

 published at the expense of the State, the brains, the knowledge and experi- 

 ence, in fact the all that goes to render them valuable, is the free gift of the 

 society and of its volunteer friends. Under this state of affairs, it seems to be 

 practical suicide on its part, nor can it be supposed to be the intent of the 

 legislature, to require that they be so employed as to interfere with the 

 efficiency of its operations. Under these circumstances, the society elected to 

 act upon the obvious truth, that horticulturists and members of horticultural and 

 pomological societies must, as a rule, be the most proper persons to carry out the 

 requirements of the Legislature by placing the society's share of these reports, 

 together with its other distributions, in the hands of those known to be inter- 

 ested in horticulture from the fact of their membership in an auxiliary society, 

 thus cutting off a waste of such volumes as had heretofore, in large degree, 

 gone into unappreciative hands, and, at the same time, constituting such dis- 

 tribution an aid, rather than a hindrance, in building up the membership of 

 feoth the society and its auxiliaries. I have considered this particular the more 

 at length for the reason that there have been those who have charged the so- 

 ciety, though unwarrantably, with selling these volumes as a means of replea- 

 ishing its exchequer, instead of treating it as the exercise of a wise and war- 

 rantable discretion in making provision for the efficiency of its operations, and, 

 at the same time, guarding against possible censure in the performance of the 

 duty entrusted to it. 



The associations of this society with the State Agricultural College have, for 

 many years, been of the most thoroughly cordial and satisfactory character — a 

 state of affairs to which the voluntary and self-sacrificing efforts of Professors 

 Beal, Cook, Kedzie, and others of the faculty have, no doubt, largely con- 

 tributed. Quite recently it is understood that action is contemplated looking 

 to the appointment of an additional member of the faculty, with the powers 

 and duties of Professor of Horticulture, and, inasmuch as the incumbent of 

 such position will, naturally, if not necessarily, be expected to exert a large 

 influence upon the operations of that department of the institution, whether 

 of a scientific or practical character, while upon his sympathy and cordial co- 

 operation with this society must, in a great degree, depend the ability to 

 induce and continue the harmonious and effective joint action of the two, it 

 becomes a matter of no little moment to us that such appointee be a thor- 

 oughly capable horticulturist as well as a person heartily in sympathy with the 

 objects of this society. Communications received by the Secretary from 

 members of the board, indicate a disposition to favorably consider the wishes 

 of the society in the matter, and invite the full and free expression of its 

 wishes respecting it. It is understood that action on the matter by the Board 

 of Agriculture is deferred to give the society the opportunity at this meeting 

 to mature and express its views and wishes on the subject, with assurance that 

 any action we may take in the case shall receive its careful consideration. 

 The subject involves much that may be considered essential to the highest 

 interests of the society, and we trust it will not fail to command considerate 

 and thoughtful action on our part. 



It will be recollected that the arrangement with the State Agricultural 

 Society, under which the Horticultural Society has for a number of years taken 

 the responsibility of the getting up and management of the exhibits of fruits 

 and flowers at the annual State fairs, together with the offering and awarding 

 of premiums thereon is not of a permanent character. It has now been 

 annually renewed for a series of years at the annual meeting of their executive 



