a ANNUAL REPORT. 
There was exhibited a Wealthy apple about the size of a Transcendent 
crab, the only one on the tables. This stunted specimen was shown as a 
fair sample of the Wealthy, and no explanation on our part could dispel the ~ 
idea from people’s minds that it was the best we could produce. A certain 
reporter who visited the Exposition, returning home and seeing the fruit 
_ exhibited at our State fair, said in no very complimentary language ‘that 
we made a failure; it would have been better to have staid at home.” The. 
year was acknowledged unproductive, but some from favored localities 
could have added materially to the collection if they had desired. Winona 
had some very fine fruit on exhibition at the State fair, but I think nota 
single specimen at Chicago. Lake City exhibited, for two days only, a few 
plates of crabs and hybrids. W. E. Brimhall, Truman M. Smith and J. T. 
Grimes, sent a few specimens of Duchess, Transcendents, Hyslops, &c. 
John S. Harris, as usual, exhibited a number of varieties of standard 
apples, the best he had. If others had done likewise, we should have had, 
if not a gorgeous, a creditable display. I desire to impress upon the mem- 
bers of this meeting the necessity of early and active measures for an 
exhibition at the Centennial. 
Exhibitions in 1876. 
The American Pomological Society, at its last meeting, resolved to ac- 
cept the invitation of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Association to meet 
for a social reunion in September, 1876, at the Quaker City. We should 
mature plans as soon as possible, and it would seem advisable now, while 
together, to discuss this all-absorbing question. This year is fraught with 
many benefits to our great Northwest, if we but improve the opportunity 
of exhibiting to the world in a presentable form the varied products of our 
soils, not the least among which is the fruit interest. We cannot be sur- 
passed in the quality of such as we do raise, nor in that beautiful waxen 
appearance which all our fruits possess. In sprightly flavor our cultivated 
apples, crab-apples, plums, grapes, currants, gooseberries, raspberries, 
strawberries, and uncultivated cranberries, blueberries, huckleberries, 
raspberries, blackberries, &c., excel that from more southern localities. 
Floriculture should be represented in all its varied forms. Finally, there 
is much in the State that would be of interest to the gazing throng if we 
but do our whole duty in placing our resources upon the tables in the 
most interesting manner. Pardon me for these few suggestions. Let 
whoever has charge of the collection of fruits not rely upon written solici- 
tations, but have the pledged assistance of an efficient working committee, 
whose hearts and souls are in the work; who are willing to contribute 
time, and money, if need be, in making collections. There are some, not 
many, I am glad to say, who do not take that interest they ought in an 
enterprise of this kind. Let us as a society make one grand effort, and 
send, not only what we ourselves, but our friends and neighbors raise. If 
a few in each county take the matter in hand, make their collections and 
forward to the State committee, there will be a variety from which to 
select some worthy of the object. 
Never grow weary in well doing. Try to help each other over the rough 
road of adversity, for we all feel better for a little timely assistance given, 
