STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. G5 



Mr. Atherton. Will the gentleman allow me to ask why can not 

 a portion of this $15,000, which is now appropriated, under the 

 Hatch Experiment Station bill, to our State, be used in the direction 

 of experimentation in the line of horticulture, instead of asking the 

 State for an appropriation ? 



Sec. Gilbert. We have a very good reason for not using it in 

 the way we would the appropriation we ask for, and that is that we 

 are not allowed to do it ; the government restrictions do not admit of 

 it. We propose a horticultural department as an educational branch 

 of the institution ; the government aid in this direction is for experi- 

 mental purposes and not educational work ; the two are distinct and 

 must be kept distinct entirely. 



Mr. D. J. Briggs. I am very glad that Mr. Gilbert has given us^ 

 the interpretation of the law which he has. I always supposed they 

 could do an}- work and carr}- it on as the^' saw fit, not understand- 

 ing the requirements of the law. I believe in an institution estab- 

 lished in the State that should act partiall}- in conjunction with the* 

 several associations of the State which are working in the same di- 

 rection. It looks to me as though in a country like this we could 

 with propriet}' take a step in that direction. I think if this society 

 would take this matter in hand and carry it along, with the aid of 

 the stipend which has been granted us, that we could accomplish 

 something in the future in this direction. What is the society for? 

 What is the station for? Why, it is to enlighten farmers in their 

 business. I hope that something may be done at this meeting, in 

 this early stage of the experiment station, in this direction, so that 

 we may receive the benefits while we are living. Yankees are im- 

 patient and like to see matters going along as fast as possible ; we 

 are unlike the English, who can wait forty or fift}' years for the 

 results of experiments to be brought before the public. 



Mr. J. H. Hale, of Glastonbury, Conn. The experiment sta- 

 tion matter was correctly explained by your secretary. The law is 

 broad enough to do any work in the State that the people in the 

 State want ; and while this society, or any society in the State, has 

 no authority or power to say that the station shall do this or the 

 other work, I am acquainted with the directors of some of the sta- 

 tions, and know the perplexities they are in to know what the citi- 

 zens of the different States want done and what they can do to most 

 benefit them. I know that any suggestion that 3'ou may make, or 



