220 STATE HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



in the State, but to the fruit-grower, indispensible. If organization 

 has any potency, if combined influence has any weight, let oars be used 

 on the right side of this question. If we cannot enlist the whole pop- 

 ulation, may we not at least interest all fruit-growers in a measure so 

 practicable, so important in its application and so unquestionably pro- 

 motive of the public good. 



The permanence of the Benton County Horticultural Society is no 

 longer problematical; it is here to stay. With the hope that we shall 

 all unite in promoting its efficiency, this report is submitted. 



J. R. CORDELL. 



The Secretary read his report : 



To the President and Members of Bentoii County Horticultural 

 Society — It becomes my duty as Secretary to report the work of the 

 past year. The actual membership of the Society is 14, though a few 

 whose duties are unpaid will, perhaps, entitle us to a membership of 17. 

 The regular meetings of January, May and September were not held 

 for lack of a quorum. 



Papers have been read as follows: " Whole vs. Piece Root Grafts," 

 J. Alvin Dickson; "The Farmer's Garden," W. H. Fry; ''Cow-peas 

 as an Orchard Crop," Dr. N. B. Cotton ; "Birds as Aids to Horticul- 

 ture," Maj. Geo. Bill ; " Why Do We Plant ?" Carl L. Brunskog ; Poem, 

 " Autum Days Not Melancholy," Maj. Bill. These papers and many 

 other questions have been ably discussed by experienced horticultur- 

 ists, and as Secretary, I have kept a record of the ideas expressed as 

 well as I could. A fuller record of the opinions of a few members 

 who attend these meetings would be of great value, and so far as I 

 have been able to record them, they are generally read and highly ap- 

 preciated as published in the Benton County Democrat. 



As reported elsewhere, the income from the membership fees is 

 slightly less than the expenditures, and the Society should raise its an- 

 nual membership fees from its present low price of 40 cents, unless 

 more than 15 or 20 persons should be found willing to aid the Society 

 by their active membership. 



At the last meeting of the Society I was instructed to ascertain 

 from shippers, evaporators, freight agents and others, the amount of 

 apples sold in Benton county in the year 1895, It has not been pos- 

 sible to get exact figures in every case, but it is believed these figures 

 are nearly correct: There has been shipped out on lOS.'J cars 519,960 

 bushels of apples. There have been evaporated 211,000 bushels by 

 17 evaporators. The distillery at Bentonville has used 140,000 bushels 

 and the cider factory at Rogers has used 35,000 bushels. Evaporated 



