432 
STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 
and ruinous blundering on tbe part of men ignorant of the 
first principles of horticulture, or by intelligent and systematic 
reseajTch and inquiry ? Which of these courses is most condu¬ 
cive to the interest of the people? An exploration then, of 
the kind I recommend, should have for its object, not only 
the learning all that can be learnt of our indigenous fruits, but 
the learning of all that can be learnt of those localities, where, 
for good and sufficiently ascertained reasons, the people can 
plant with the reasonable assurance of gathering the fruit. A 
commission of this character, at an expense of a thousand 
dollars, would, I have no doubt, if it did nothing more than 
teach us which of our indigenous fruits, the plum for instance, 
was most worthy of our efforts to improve by cultivation, and 
point out the best localities for fruits already domesticated, be 
a saving to this state of a hundred thousand dollars within the 
next ten years. 
In connection w ith this suggestion, it ought not to be over¬ 
looked that horticulture is not simply calculated to beautify 
the land we live in, but to introduce among our people every 
variety of fruit and vegetable which can contribute to health 
or comfort. The art is but in its infancy among us, and to 
judge by what it has done for us thq last fifteen years by way 
of introducing and originating new fruits and vegetables, it 
would seem that a new world of productions necessary, or as 
luxuries* is promised us within the ne:^t fifteen years. Will 
the legislature help forward this work ? 
A word or two about our experimental garden. This state, 
horticulturally speaking, has distinguished itself during the 
past year in a way unprecedented in this country, so far as I 
know, by the establishing of the state horticultural experimen¬ 
tal garden and the giving of horticultural lectures in the state 
university by the members of this society. The initiation of 
such a work is work enough, as it seenis to me for one year, 
but its perfecting and completion must be the labor of many 
men and many years. Its necessity and great advantage must 
and will ensure its success. Its progress promises much. 
I have spoken of the necessity for a more perfect union be- 
