STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 223 



SECRETARY'S ANNUAL REPORT. 



Mr. President and Fellow Members: 



In presenting this, our second annual report as Secretary of 

 this Society, it gives us mingled pleasure and delight to meet 

 again with friends and fellow members, to carefully consider and 

 discuss the varied interests we represent and add our mite to" 

 wards the sure and steady progress, as well as pernament ad- 

 vancement of the horticultural interest of our commonwealth. 

 Again are you to be congratulated for measurable success, pros- 

 perity and happiness, attendant on the labors of the months 

 which but too quickly have been numberd with the past, but 

 which have doubtless yielded golden fruitage for earnest effort, 

 thought and toil, which may have been, perchance, with willing, 

 hopeful hand bestowed. 



In glancing back uf>on the few brief months, since our last an- 

 nual session, we gather many pleasing lessons from the past and 

 find good cause for taking courage for the future, which still is 

 lying just before our reach, but which is constantly unfolding 

 every hour. 



THE PAST YEAR 



in some respects, at least, has been a prosperous one. Our 

 crops were reasonably abundant, although the prices realized have 

 not been so remunerative as was to be expected; but while much 

 better have been known in other years, compared with other sec- 

 tions of our land, the net results, we think, will average fairly 

 well. Our fertile soil has yielded ample tribute to the thought- 

 ful, patent husbandman, and few complaints are urged in this 

 regard, no matter how severe may be the pressing weight of com- 

 petition, or how discouraging the crushing load which capital 

 with its monopolizing hand may struggle to impose. 



THE WEATHER SERVICE. 



Some interesting facts are to be gathered from the statistics 

 furnistied by our signal service and by comparisons with other 

 years, regarding certain meterological changes taking place from 

 time to time. This surely is a most inviting field for thought, 



