214 ANNUAL EEPOJRT. 



to the point than the advancement of mere theories. In horti- 

 cultural meetings the prominent feature should be to furnish 

 popular and interesting discussions. Every fruit grower desires 

 to hear from the men who live in the orchards and berry fields. 

 They desire to communicate their own views also. It is the same 

 with agricultural journals." 



Mr. Pearce offered the following resolution: 



From the fact that knowledge is power and the growing of plants and trees 

 is closely connected with botany, we recommend that all fruit growers should 

 make botanj' a special study, especially those parts relating to their business. 



On motion of Mr. Smith the resolution was adopted. 



Mr. Sias. Mr. President, as long as we are on miscellaneous 

 business, I would like to state to the convention that since I 

 came to the convention I have received two communications from 

 Eev. G. W. Fuller, of Litchfield, now our delegate to the Iowa 

 meeting. The first was written November 18th. He writes that 

 he was to start for Iowa, and expresses in this regret in regard to 

 the handling or management of the Finance Committee's report. 

 You will recollect that Mr. Fuller was the chairman of the Fi- 

 nance Committee last year; anc4 you will also notice that in the 

 report of last year our secretary states that at the close of the 

 convention this report of the Finance Committee could not be 

 found. He states in this letter that if the Secretary had wished 

 to put it on record he could probably have easily found it by 

 calling on our reporter, and he said that he would try and find 

 the report. In the next communication he encloses a copy of 

 the Finance Committee's report. I would say that I was a mem- 

 ber of that committee and have looked the report over carefully, 

 and I am satisfied it is a correct copy of the report of the Finance 

 Committee; but I do not wish to take up the time of the conven- 

 tion to read that report unless it is called for. I have a copy here 

 in my hands and if the convention calls for it I will read it, but 

 I presume it is not necessary. But in order to satisfy our chair- 

 man I will move that this report be accepted, or put on file and 

 be printed in the forthcoming report of our transactions. 



President Smith. Before that motion is put I would like to 

 have a few words to say. I thought that mattei- was settled last 

 year; I cannot see the advantage at this time of bringing up that 

 report. I would much prefer that that report l)e brought up and 

 acted upon when Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Fuller were both present; 

 I don't think we should act upon that report while they are ab- 



