NATIONAL COUNCIL OF HORTICULTURE 73 



census takers, a collection of statistics regarding horticultural plantings 

 and crops in the state. The fruit men of Ohio have for three genera- 

 tions developed the horticultural industry there. Longworth and others 

 have produced new varieties and are encouraging this and other lines 

 of the work. 



Twenty years ago Kentucky in her Horticultural Society meetings 

 was preaching better culture, larger attendance at meetings, less ignor- 

 ant and credulous acceptance of tree-peddlers' stories, more imitation of 

 Yankee enterprise (now we say western!), more of thrift and business 

 sense, more attention to details, and more love for the business. We 

 have climbed to a higher plane but the sermon is still good for us. 



Iowa has helped along wonderfully. She has given us Budd and 

 Secretary Wilson and C. G. Patten. Of the latter, "He has originated 

 many varieties by cross-breeding," says M. J. Wragg, "that are perfectly 

 adapted to any good orchard soil in Iowa or south Minnesota." Mr. 

 Patten is honored in the presidency of the Northeast Iowa Horticul- 

 tural Society, and he rejoices, that "under the most trying climatic 

 conditions we find the most heroic efforts. Many things that were 

 problematical a few years ago have now become fixed facts and beyond 

 the experimental stage." 



Colorado's fruits are sought by many, and fancy prices are the 

 consequence. They are. "self-sellers." Specimen boxes of apples, sen! 

 to Germany and Great Britain created an instant demand. Colorado is 

 among the leaders in effective horticultural inspection laws. The larg- 

 est size fruits are not desirable in Germany because they are sold by 

 the pound and the people there (with eight or more in family), want 

 more than two or three apples to the pound. This mountain state is 

 trying the dwarfing of peach trees, so that they can be protected in 

 winter. Dry-farming, it is believed, will bring to the semi-arid plains 

 homes, orchards and fields. Already she ships to twenty-two different 

 states, besides Canada and Mexico. President Coburn of the Horticul- 

 tural Society, says to the young men, "plant orchards, our apples are 

 the most perfect and longest keepers produced in America." 



Oklahoma is not afraid of radical propositions in the way of 

 better rural education provided that the means are immediately effec- 

 tive of improvement. Oklahoma's first report is a model of system, 

 having its subjects grouped in sections, as: The Board of Agriculture, 

 Gardening and Truck Farming, Fruit Growing, Field Crops, Dairying, 

 etc., etc. Her peaches are already known in London. 



Illinois has besides its State Society, three sectional ones, for the 

 north, south and central portions, and fifteen experimental stations, 

 each specializing under its own superintendent. 



Michigan was the first state to have an agricultural college. It 

 was established in 1857, though the Morrill bill was not signed by 

 President Lincoln until 1862. 



The advancement along horticultural lines has been truly mar- 

 velous. Some of us can well remember when the shipment of fruits 

 from our central west began. First in a small way, but now trains 

 of cars carry the products of our orchards to every section of the 



