ANNUAL WINTER MEETING. 85 



society. The question which as members of the society and practical 

 horticulturists is pertinent is, how shall we still farther extend the work 

 of our society, and foster an intelligent interest in horticulture in our 

 community? 



The work of the society consists in collecting facts as they exist, creat- 

 ing new facts through the medium of experiment, gathering these facts 

 together by the aid of our organization, and finally placing this collection 

 of facts, properly collated and arranged, before the people of the state. 

 In short, our work is to gather together horticultural truth and scatter it 

 broadcast. To accomplish this result this society has its committees 

 whose work it is to present from time to time the truths both new and 

 old relating each to his department. It has its experiment stations in 

 different locations, soils and climates throughout the state for the pur- 

 pose of testing systematically those things which are comparatively new 

 or untried, with the purpose of learning the truth. Eeports of these 

 are also turned into the common treasury. Besides these sources of in- 

 formation we sit as disciples at the feet of the professors and other 

 learned men of the land who come up to shed light upon the dark 

 places of the Northwest. Here, then, are gathered together into one 

 receptacle the dry facts that make up the annual gospel of horti- 

 culture. Mix all this with three times as much enthusiasm which 

 glows in the words of those whose thoughts burn within and clothe these 

 skeletons of fact with life and light, and the work of the society for the 

 year has shaped itself to go .before the people. Here, then, is the work 

 prepared for distribution among the people where in large part the good 

 results of the work of the society are yet to appear. 



Certainly, a large part of the advantage of a horticultural association is 

 found in the personal inspiration that those who attend its meetings carry 

 away wich them and in impart to others. Those who do not have the 

 advantage of this attendance or of personal contact with those who have 

 been present, come in touch with the society and the direct influence of 

 its work only through the medium of its published reports or extracts 

 from them. Of the limited number of reports published, aside from 

 those that are distributed directly to the members of the society, probably 

 a smaller number than we could wish go into the handsof persons who ap- 

 preciate their value or make the best practicable use of them. That the 

 society does collect and arrange in its report fairly well the current horti- 

 cultural facts as they exist in the state from year to year, there is no ques- 

 tion; and the problem that presents most difficulties in its full solution 

 is how to distribute this information so that the best good may result. 



It is certain that if all those whose pursuits or tastes lay in the 

 direction of horticulture would unite with this society and attend 

 its meetings the best results attainable would follow. This cannot 

 be expected, but it follows that an increase of membership means 

 an increase in all ways in the results desired. Many who would be 

 glad to join our ranks know little or nothing of the society and its work- 

 ings, or have a misconception of its personnel and its objects. Every pos- 

 sible means should be taken to inform the people of the facts in regard 

 to the horticultural society, and urge the earnest co-operation of all 

 interested in this work. The society should more extensively advertise 

 itself and let it be generally known that this is an association not of 

 office-holders, or amateurs, or of nurserymen, alone, but an association of 

 the people and for the people. 



