1() MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



which will enable us to prepare special reports upon the apple and 

 the small fruits. Unfortunately the season was unfavorable to the 

 apple last year, over a large part of the country, and it will be 

 necessary to issue another circular this year on the same subject, 

 a.s it would be unwise to attempt a publication Avithout comprehen- 

 sive information, and this it has not been possible for our corres- 

 pondents to give during the past year. 



The other fruits are to be treated in a similar way if my 

 purposes are carried into effect. All this requires much thought 

 in preparing the questions and collating the returns and getting 

 them into readable shape. The time and skilled labor necessary 

 in accomplishing this is expensive and could not be borne by any 

 of the state or national societies, and as it is public work it should 

 be paid for out of the public funds. What more legitimate use 

 could lie made of the taxes paid by horticulturists? The mere 

 clerical work is a burden that only the general government can 

 and should bear. It has been my invariable rule in selecting 

 clerks, to emplo}' oi^ly such as have a natural inclination to pomol- 

 ogy combined with a reasonable amount of education acquired 

 both in the class room and in the field of practice, that they may 

 know what they do and also be in love witli their work. So far, 

 all the six persons employed in the Pomological Division have 

 been reared in, and taken from the country, and so far as I control 

 the Division there will be none other. 



The employment of special agents outside the office has onh' 

 been possible in a few cases but they have been eminently useful 

 in gathering facts. At present, Mr. John S. Harris, of Minne- 

 sota, is investigating the hardy fruits of the Northwest and 

 the Russian apples in particular ; also Mr. T. T. Lyon, of Michi- 

 gan, whom you all know as an able pomologist, is a regular 

 employe of the Division, and at the present is visiting the state 

 horticultural societies of the West, to assist in naming their fruits, 

 participate in their discussions, and endeavor to arrange a system 

 of reciprocitj' between the national, state, and local societies and 

 the Pomological Division. It is hoped that by this latter means, in 

 due time, much good may be done directly to the fruit growers by 

 collecting and disseminating information through our reports and 

 otherwise. It is especially desired to cooperate witli the societies 

 in all possible ways and if anything can be done in this direction 

 with and for j^our State, I trust it will be brought about. 



