Secretary's (^ori^er. 



Necessary Brevity. — The Secretary's Corner is necessarily short 

 on account of the prolixity of the secretary elsewhere in this num- 

 ber. 



Free Reading Matter. — Remember, there is reading matter in 

 this office for free distribution to our members, they to pay the ex- 

 press charges. Apply to the secretary. 



The American Forestry Association.— This societj^ held its 

 annual session at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 22ud. No program of the 

 meeting has been received, but the press reports speak of an impor- 

 tant gathering. 



View of the State Fair.— Mr. H. W. Crosby, of Hastings, son of 

 our old member, Judge F. M. Crosby, thoughtfully sent to this office 

 a good photographic view of a section of the fruit tables at the late 

 fair, which we may be able to use later. We wish others would bear 

 us in mind in this w^ay as w^ell. 



The National Irrigation Congress —The sixth annual session 

 of this bodj' convened at Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 28 and 29. Our society 

 was invited to send a delegate and later the cit}^ of Minneapolis 

 appointed your secretary one to represent her but forgot to enclose 

 a draft for expenses. Our sympathies are certainly heartily with 

 the work of this body, and we should keep in touch with it as far as 

 practicable. 



Manitoba Forest Preserves. — More than a million acres, divi- 

 ded in four tracts, have been lately set apart in that province for per- 

 manent forest preserves. The blocks are to be gridironed with fire 

 guards and every precaution taken to protect them from this dreaded 

 enemy of the forest. We are not too enlightened to learn much from 

 the ways of our neighbors — and in fact they do a few things v^erj^ 

 well, which we all admit. 



Library of Massachusetts Horticultural Society.— Six hun- 

 dred and fifty volumes have been added to this library the past 

 year. With its large endowment and great prestige, this is becom- 

 ing the most extensive repository of horticultural knowledge in 

 America, probably is already so. We can at least emulate the ex- 

 ample of this sturdy association and wait and work for the larger 

 things we are sure the future has in store for us. 



A National Bird Day.— The U. S. Dept. of Agriculture has 

 issued a circular on this subject and in it says briefly, "The object 

 of Bird Daj^ is to diffuse knowledge concerning our native birds and 

 to arouse a more general interest in bird protection. The day would 

 be specially observed in our public schools with appropriate 

 exercises. It might be made verj' enjoyable and instructive." The 

 horticulturists would say amen to any move looking to the protec- 

 tion of their natural allies, the birds. 



