222 ANNUAL REPORT 



There are two or three sorts that promise to excel any that I 

 have yet seen of the native, propagated in nurseries. One very 

 large, my wife calls the Wild Damson; another of the form 

 and quality of the De Soto, is larger and a perfect beauty in 

 color and finish. There are whole thickets of one kind, few 

 trees bearing inferior fruit; these I shall grub out, encourage 

 the good ones and then crosses, and hereafter think as much of 

 my plums as of a peach orchard. Have planted a lot of pits 

 from the best ones to get a seedling plum orchard. Some of the 

 best sorts are in a pasture where I have to let my cattle run. 

 They will not file their horns any more on plum trees or trees of 

 any other sort, for I have taken their horns all off, and I shall 

 not let any more grow on the farm. If this does not protect 

 the trees, the boviues will get fenced out of the gulch. 



Hoi^e you will have a pleasant meeting, lots of fruit and gar- 

 den truck on your tables, a rich program, and all things else 

 needful to prove to the governor and legislature that you are 

 spending the state appropriation to the best good of the public 

 for whom you work. You have a good secretary. Cherish him. 



Oliver Gibes, Jr. 



On motion of Mr. Harris, Mr. Gibbs was made an honorary 

 life member of the Society. 



Mr. Sias said the sand cherry referred to by Mr. Gibbs, was 

 hardy on his grounds, the plants being two and a half to three 

 feet high; they had blossomed, but as yet borne no fruit. It was 

 a native of Dakota. 



Mr. Brand had experience with the sand cherry some fifteen 

 years ago. He saw an article in the report of the department 

 of agriculture some twenty years ago, calling attention to the 

 ''Dwarf Eocky Mountain Cherry;" and he had paid twenty-five 

 dollars for a quantity of the plants. They proved to be identical 

 with the sand cherry and were good for nothing; they were har- 

 dy enough but the fruit was worthless. 



Mr. Harris gave notice of proposed amendment- to the con- 

 stitution of the Society authorizing life membership fees to be 

 paid in two annual payments of five dollars each. 



The annual report of the Secretary was then read. 



