196 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



effort ought to be made in Nebraska to hunt out the most promising of 

 our seedling peaches. 



It is true we have a few men in the state who are producing many new 

 Ijinds of fruits; men like Theo. Williams, for instance. These men are 

 doing this work for the good of the state. They may hope to receive some 

 fitting financial reward for their work from the sales of valuable new 

 varieties, but if they succeed in this they will be an exception to an almost 

 universal rule. The breeding of new fruits, in other words, is not a pay- 

 ing undertaking. Even Burbank has to have outside help to continue 

 his work. Cannot the Horticultural society of Nebraska do something to 

 encourage its own members who are trying to produce better varieties of 

 fruits for Nebraska? 



On motion this report was adopted. 



The following communication from G. W. Alexander was read by the 

 secretary: 



Peru, Neb., January 7, 1907. 



I appeal to the members of the Nebraska State Horticultural Society 

 as being interested in the improvement of our fruits, flowers and plants. 

 I therefore would suggest the formation or organization of a society for 

 the promotion and dissemination of knowledge leading to the improve- 

 ment of our fruits, flowers and cereals. This would not only be useful to 

 the state at large, but would be a kind of auxiliary to the State Horticul- 

 tural Society. I believe this to be the opportune time to act, and organ- 

 ize a Plant Breeders' Association. Much could be said in favor of this 

 kind of an organization, but space forbids. 



Yours truly, G. W. ALEXANDER. 



^ DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Marshall: This society belongs to a breeders' association and I 

 think Professor Emerson could give us the results. It is all right, but 

 some way it doesn't work well. Some way we can't get at it right as a 

 society. It seems to be left to individuals. I don't know what we could 

 do in the way of organizing. We are almost killed off with organizations 

 in the state now. 



Professor Emerson: I do feel that this is a part of horticultural work, 

 just as much, maybe, as other work we take up. But this society can put 

 papers on the program, and I believe that is the only way we will over 

 get this matter before us successfully. We need to get varieties that are 

 adapted to the most trying conditions in some part of the state. But I 

 think we can do the work in this society without further organization. 



President: It seems to me it would be a step forward if we could 

 encourage the breeding or dissemination of some of our fruits that are 

 grown in the state. 



Mr. Marshall: We have several stations in the state. This society 

 can buy those plants and distribute them to the stations. We have a 

 synonym committee and they could look into all these things themselves 



