134 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



that, but we took more medals according to the number of ex- 

 hibitors than any other state. So I think Nebraska is nothing 

 to be ashamed of. Right here it would be well to make a few 

 remarks in reference to judging fruit in this state. We have 

 classes here at the University for judging horses, cattle and 

 hogs. And it seems to me that we ought to have something 

 along this line in fruit judging. This is one of the things 

 that we must learn, and it should also be taught to the 

 younger men. 



Another thing that should be impressed upon our horticul- 

 turists here is the subject of freight rates. It has been the 

 rule that transportation companies and shippers have kept as 

 far from each other as possible, and are always fighting back 

 and forth. Now this should not be, it is all wrong. The Rail- 

 road companies can do nothing without our assistance. I be- 

 lieve that not later than our next meeting at least, some repre- 

 sentatives of the Railroads should be invited to come here and 

 talk this matter over with the Society. 



We have five experiment stations in the state testing new 

 fruits all the time. There is one thing that seems to be the 

 matter with this work, and that is, that we cannot disseminate 

 fast enough what we learn there. The way it is now, nothing 

 can be given to the people before the information is about two 

 years old. We should get this information before the people 

 just as soon as we can after we find and learn these things. If 

 we should get into closer working order with the University 

 here, within fifteen to thirty days after we find out that a cer- 

 tain fruit is good or a failure, we should have the information 

 before the people. We should get some sort of a method right 

 away for getting such information to the public. 



Now while our horticultural interests are very good, we should 

 have more members. Bring your friends to our meetings and 

 get them in on the ground floor. I am very glad to see so many 

 out this afternoon. We are glad to see the State Farm and 

 University people showing so much interest in our work. We 

 shall try to repay them for it. I thank you. (Applause.) 



The President: Next on our program for this afternoon is 

 a paper entitled "Some Experience with Cherries," by W. A. 



