18 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



postage. We have the free iise of the mails, and not only letters 

 but packages of specimens go under (jnr frank. I liave on hand 

 boxes and franks which will be sent to any person requesting 

 them, thus enabling him to forward any specimens appertaining to 

 to pomology which he may think of interest or may desire to have 

 identified. 



One of the first things which I attempted otticially was to- 

 arrange and have adopted by the state horticultural societies, 

 especially those near each other or having common interests, a 

 system of holding their regular meetings in succession. It is 

 evident that such an arrangement can be onl}^ beneficial, as persons 

 wishing to attend the meetings of neighboring States can do so, 

 whereas, if they met at the same time this would not be possible. 

 It also affords opportunit}" for several societies to engage the 

 services of the same lecturer, whose abilities may l»e of such a 

 character that his presence is needed in more than one State. I 

 am happy to say that with few exceptions this plan met with 

 approval. In a few cases it was necessary to have the legislatures 

 pass special amendatory acts and in others the constitution of the 

 society had to be changed. 



In the course of our official work we obtain information concern- 

 ing a great many mew seedling fruits that have never been heard 

 of except in their native localities. There are many others which 

 might have been found had we been a big to make th(£ necessary 

 investigations,. To bring these from obscurity and place them 

 where they will be tested is a work that all will agree should be 

 performed. In many cases very little expense would be necessary 

 either in the way of time or money. 



I have long endeavored to secure an ai)propriation that shall 

 enable me not only to collect and distribute tltese nameless fniits, 

 thus placing them where they may be of some use to the world, 

 but to purchase scions, cuttings, plants, etc., of fruits that are 

 already someAvhat known, and distribute them in places where 

 they may be likely to prove valuable. I am sorry to say that so 

 far my efforts have been wholly in vain. The representatives of 

 the people in Congress are their publie servants, elected for the 

 especial jjurpose of serving their constituents, and it certainly 

 would hv in no wise improper for the fruit growers of this country 

 to suggest, and perhaps even deuiniid. that something of the kind 

 just mentioned be done. 



