106 ANNUAL REPORT. 
Horticultural Society, and enable us to keep abreast with the improvements: 
of the age. I send vou herewith my address before that Society on its 50th 
Anniversary, by which you will see how, from small beginnings, it has- 
become a powerful Association in promoting American Horticulture. I add 
also my address read at Rochester, at the late session of the Americam 
Pomological Society, and will send the ‘‘ Proceedings ” as soon as published. 
I regretted exceeding)y my inability to be there in person, but the accident. 
which befel me last spring prevented me from leaving home. Hoping that. 
I may be quite well by the next meeting, and receive a large delegation. 
from your State, and among them Wyman Elliot, who I well remember, b 
am, as ever, Yours, 
MARSHALL P. WILDER. 
CHARLES Y. Lacy, Esq., See’y, &ce. 
LETTER OF CHAS. W. GARFIELD. 
SECRETARY’S OFFICE, 
GRAND Rapips, Micu., Jan. 12, 1879. 
Prof. Chas. ¥. Lacy, Sec., &c.: 
My Krnp Sir: Our society is under many obligations to you for the 
liberal box of exchanges which you have sent us, and I trust in some way 
we can in a practical manner appreciate the favor. If there is anything FE 
can do in the way of reports for your society, or you personally, please to 
call on me with no hesitancy. The different parts of my work follow each 
other so closely that the years are busy ones with me. We hold quarterly 
meetings, which are intended to be quite extensive pomological institutes, 
The annual meeting I began to prepare for about October Ist. It is held 
the first days of December. As soon as this is out of the way the winter 
meeting in February must receive attention. The June meeting we make a 
great deal of, and when this is over the September session must at once 
receive a bountiful supply of work, for it is in connection with the State 
Fair, and we make a large exhibit of fruits and flowers. This meeting 
must be a grand success, for here we make our money to do all of our work. 
The free distribution of our volumes gives us little opportunity to get. 
members. I have to put a great amount of time on one volume. Our peo- 
ple are so much pleased with the Secretary’s portfolio that it can not be 
given up, and no one without experience can guess how much time it takes.. 
Our reports are not what they would be had we more money to work with. 
The Kansas Agricultural Reports seem to me in the best shape to do good 
for the State ofany I got. I am satisfied it pays a State to issue as valuable 
reports as possible and circulate them freely abroad. Michigan’s standing 
in pomology is due to the reports of our society and the missionary spirit 
of the association. In answer to the circular letter I sent out to State 
societies, 1 am surprised to find the State government allows them so little 
aid. To Kansas belongs the banner in this regard. Pardon me for writing 
with so much verbosity concerning our work. I do it because I enjoy 
receiving such letters from other secretaries. My volume is now all in 
hands of printer and 200 pages in print. Will send you copies as soon as- 
out; more than ten if you desire. 
Yours truly, 
CHAS. W. GARFIELD, 
Grand Rapids. 
