1885.] APPENDIX. 55 



office, Prof. Scribner, who was very highly endorsed as a botanist, to 

 make a specialty in the study of Fungi in plants, and he is giving to 

 this subject his entire attention. The members of this society can 

 greatly aid him in the work in which he is engaged. Any informa- 

 tion relating to this subject sent to the department will be thankfully 

 received, and any questions that may be asked or knowledge sought 

 will receive attention. I feel that this is a most important field for 

 investigation, and the attention which has been given to this subject 

 by this meeting confirms the wisdom of the course I have pursued in 

 giving this matter special attention. Another subject that I have 

 given considei-able thought is the collection of horticultural statistics. 

 Nothing has been done by the department in the collection of informa- 

 tion regarding fruit crops. The condition and jjroduction of grain 

 ci-ops are carefully reported, but who can tell of the quantity or 

 quality of our fruit crops? Who knows whether there is an over or 

 under production of apples the present year from any official source ? 

 The value of our apple crop — that is, the crop that is marketed — 

 cannot be less than thirty millions of dollars. In Michigan alone it is 

 estimated to be over one million of dollars. Apples have a commer- 

 cial value like other crops, and so have many other fruits, and I shall 

 endeavor in the future to devise some means to collect statistics 

 relating to them. Indeed, I think there ought to be a pomological or 

 horticultural division connected with the agricultural department, 

 and nothing but the lack of funds prevents me from establishing 

 it at once, and I may yet find some means of doing so. As 

 most of you are aware, last June I called a convention of the repre- 

 sentatives of the agricultural colleges and experimental stations for 

 the purpose of forming close relations between the department and 

 these institutions — making the farms of these colleges the experi- 

 mental grounds of the department. The convention was a great 

 success, and the objects sought were accomplished. Hereafter the 

 fruits, seeds and plants, whether collected in this country or from 

 abroad, will be distributed to the difierent agi-icultural colleges and 

 tested, and those which are found valuable can be distributed in the 

 respective States in which they are located. I have already commis- 

 sioned Ml'. Leo Weltz, of Ohio, to collect seed fruits and plants from 

 the great steppes of Russia, and he is now engaged in that duty. I 

 hope for important results from this mission. Prof. Budd and Prof. 

 Gibb accomplished a great work for the Northwest by the introduction 

 of valuable fruits from that country, but they were far from being 

 satisfied, and they have faith that Mr. Weltz will be instrumental in 

 doing a good work for this country. But, gentlemen, I will not 

 detain you longer. I want to say, however, that I am but your agent, 

 your servant, in the work I am doing. I want not only your aid, but 

 your sympathy, your support. I feel that I have a great responsi- 

 bility resting upon me, but with your generous assistance I hope to be 

 able to discharge ray duties to your (Satisfaction and to the satisfaction 

 of the American people. There has never been a time when more 

 intelligent work was needed to be done by the American farmer than 

 now. With insect foes almost innumerable, with blights and mildews 



