HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 231 



least important, most advantageous means for gathering, storing 

 and marketing the various products raised. All these are hope- 

 ful indications of steady progress being made along this line. 



EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS. 



No doubt much good will be accomplished by the investiga- 

 tions being carried on at various experimental stations through- 

 out the land. This work is certainly a most important one if 

 properly conducted or carried on. In our report three years 

 ago, in reference to this subject we took occasion to call atten- 

 tion to some of the benefits to be derived in this direction from 

 actual experiments by horticulturists, for the promotion of the- 

 oretical and practical horticulture in this state: we sought to 

 show the need of systematic effort being made. Among the lines 

 of research and experiment named as proper subjects for in- 

 vestigation, were the following: "Protection from contingen- 

 cies of climate; effects of drought; averting injuries to fruit from 

 scorching heat, from storms in summer and disastrous frosts 

 in winter; originating new varieties of the hardiest, healthiest 

 and best kinds of fruit trees, plants, flowers, vines, and 

 shrubbery; (casting out worthless and unworthy); studying the 

 nature of plants, their diseases, their acclimation and methods 

 of cross-fertilization; the habits and influence of insect life upon 

 plants and fruits, and carefully noting the results." 



Now that the Hatch experiment law has been made effective 

 we have been fortunate at last in getting our central station sq 

 thoroughly equipped for work. It has been of&cered with 

 earnest and thorough-going men who will undoubtedly endeavor 

 to bring about the best and most practical results. Since the 

 conditions are now so favorable we do not doubt that every 

 proper means will be employed to make our station among the 

 very foremost of the land. The horticultural department is 

 especially well equipped and manned for work. It was, no doubt 

 a fortunate selection of a site — near St. Anthony Park — in 

 many ways that might be named. 



T. T. Lyon, president of the Michigan Horticultural Society, 

 in his address a few days since, at Grand Eapids, in speaking of 

 their station recently equipped, now under the control of the 

 agricultural college of that state, has this to say: "It may 

 reasonably be anticipated that with the special and recognized 

 horticultural standing of this state, horticulture, and especially 



