70 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



LETTER rrxO)! THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

 horace capron, commissioner. 



Washington, D. C, Dec. 30, 1867. 

 r. p. Denny, Esq., 



Rec. Sec'y Mass. Horticultural Society, 

 Boston, Mass. 

 Dear Sir: — 



Believing that the usefulness of the Department of Agriculture, and 

 its efficiency in the prosecution of its appropriate work, must depend in 

 a great degree upon its relations with agricultural organizations, I de- 

 sire, in assuming the duties of my official position, to invite your co- 

 operation, to claim your counsel, and to tender to you my hearty 

 sympathy in your local enterprises, and any practicable help towards 

 their successful development. It is believed that such unity can be 

 promoted by harmony of feeling and action between this Department 

 and State Societies, as between those organizations and Coimty Socie- 

 ties, and Town Clubs. 



The influence of State Boards and Societies upon the Agriculture of 

 their respective States is already incalculably great. Yet, they are only 

 in their infiincy, with many difficulties to surmount and discouragements 

 to face, and may be aided by judicious action of this DejDartment, which 

 may in turn be strengthened by association and labor with these local 

 organizations. 



It is not my purpose to attempt to designate the mode by which this 

 unity of action can be best attained, they will present themselves for 

 your consideration in your daily experience; but I will venture to hint 

 at a few obvious points, in which you may always be able to advance 

 the interests of this Department and of Agriculture. 



You can render more successful the operations of the propagating 

 garden, in testing the merits of new seedling fruits, by sending speci- 

 mens of such as have attained local promise of value for experiment in 

 the different latitude, under vaiying circumstances of treatment and 

 culture. The receipt of seeds not tested will be properly acknowledged, 

 and all plants or seeds, when desired, will be held subject to the control 

 of the donor. 



Any new variety of fruit, not disseminated, may confidently be con- 

 sidered safe, not liable to premature distribution to the injury of the 

 originator. You can also render valuable aid in the study of diseases 

 of fruit trees, by sending accurate accounts of their history, progress 

 and effects. The results of local observations and experiment is de- 



