1867] SECRETARY'S REPORT. 35 



Death, the grim Reaper, in gathering his annual harvest, has borne heavily 

 upon the Federal Department of Agriculture. These Reports, in strict justice 

 to the interests of the Horticulturist everywhere, have dwelt, in the estimation 

 of some, perhaps too heavily upon trivial short-comings and venial faults. 

 The honest motive of the citizen, must be the sufficient excuse of the official. 

 But lifting up a corner of the pall we behold a light, hitherto unduly obscured 

 that can be kindled into illumination. The learned Entomologist of that De- 

 partment, whose fame in other lands aptly illustrates the proverb that "a man is 

 not without honor, save in his own country," sparing no toil and utilizing- all 

 leisure, is understood to have prepared and to have almost in a state of readi- 

 ness for the press, a most exhaustive and thorough treatise upon the Insects of 

 the United States. Let merit be encouraged ! Let justice be done to virtue 

 even where further censure is arrested by that inexorable hand to which high 

 and low alike must bow in helpless submission. The result of the indeflitigable 

 labors of Mr. Glover has been anticipated with impatience by all who, aware of 

 their necessity, at the same time had not forgotten that ''patient waiters are no 

 losers." If the attention of Congress cannot otherwise be diverted from the 

 lucrative task of "making their own calling and election sure, " it may be 

 ■worth your while to consider whether a memorial of this Society would be ill. 

 timed or impertinent, which should solicit some slight encouragement for the la. 

 bors of a public servant whose sole aim, in a subordinate position, has been to 

 advance public prosperity and promote the general welfare. 



A strong desire has been expressed by many of the oldest and most influen- 

 tial members of the Society, that the Premiums offered by it should be largely 

 increased. Should this be done, the Secretary would earnestly recommend an 

 entire revision, or reconstruction of the existing schedule. A division of the 

 fruit into distinct classes, with an inflexible rule that the entry of a given num- 

 ber of varieties, under a specific head, shall restrict those varieties to that 

 particular competition. It might not be unwise to propose Premiums for 

 Seedling Flowers, or Fruits, of a future year, to allow time for their develop- 

 ment. Who can tell that the desired Strawberry, — more prolific than the 

 Wilson, better flavored than the Triomphe, may not be educed from the 

 spirit of emulation thus awakened by the hope of winning the Society's Cuy ? 

 For it may be worth considering whether, in the oflPer of new and additional 

 Premiums, a more enduring and wiser form should not be given to our bounty, 

 by the substitution of Plate, in some instances, for money. The Duchesse 

 Goblet, the Crawford Spoons, or the Diana Salver, would not discourage the 

 growth of Pear, Peach, or Grape, while they would remain in speciosissima 

 re, — '^A thing of beauty and a joy forever.'''' 



A wider dissemination of the Premium-List appears, however, to the Secre- 

 tary, absolutely indispensable. As distributed now, by separate address through 

 the mail, the Annual Autumnal schedule reaches only those who are already 

 members of the Society. It is a serious question, whether its best interests 

 would not be promoted and the contributions to its Exhibition largely aug- 



