secretary’s report. 
485 
secretary’s report. 
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Association: 
One year ago to-day I spoke encouragingly of your labors, 
and of the future. How well those hopes have been verified, 
and our expectations realized, it may not now be amiss to ex¬ 
amine. Where we once were, were one year ago, are now, 
and still more ought to aspire to, is well worthy a moment’s 
thought. But a few years back this association was thought 
to be dead—not life and energy enough in its members to re¬ 
suscitate itself—but lo! the leaven had been working and “ in an 
hour” many of us “ thought not of” it sprang into life and 
“brought forth fruit,” if not an hundred fold, still a reasonable 
increase, showing we have a healthy growth. Previous to the 
last year there had been no special object in view, save that of 
a general nature in the spread of horti(?ultural knowledge, 
and the encouragement of planting and growing of trees. This, 
we believe, had its reward, and though we worked to a great 
extent very blindly, yet the society was instrumental in much 
good. 
At the meeting of February, 1868, new life seemed to in¬ 
spire the actions and motives of every member present, and 
with renewed energy they went to their task, feeling there is a 
pleasure in horticulture, in the spread of the “ useful and the 
beautiful,” which we have but half realized. As a result of 
this view and determination, we have but to refer to some of 
the tasks undertaken for the year, and to note with pleasure 
how well they have been carried out. First of all, we look at 
the resolution of the last meeting, accepting the use of five 
acres of the agricultural farm—kindly tendered to us by the 
regents for horticultural experiments. We are not aware that 
there is another society in the United States that has under¬ 
taken such a work. That it is a noble work, one worthy the 
heartiest support of every horticulturist in the state, none will 
question. We feel warranted in saying this, when we review 
the long list of contributions by its friends from all parts of 
the country. For the benefit of those not acquainted with the 
