devoid of every comfort, wife shoeless and children crying for bread, they have worked on with devotion worthy better results. Think you politicians, lawyers, doctors, mechanics, artisans, ministers of the gospel, that you have been more devoted to your professions than these workers that place upon your tables luscious fruits, in your parlors and drawing rooms, beautiful flowers, and surround your homes with taste and adornment? Have you ever stopped to think how much you owe to this profession? Whatever success we have attained has been by patient, painstaking research, gleaning a little knowledge here and there; but the greatest teacher has been close observation and practical experience in the garden, the orchard and on the farm.

God has instituted certain laws with certain principles for governing his universe, and man must conform to those laws to obtain certain results. That there is a cause for all our failures no one doubts. The reason for our want of success in certain experiments has occupied the best thoughts of our leading pomologists and horticulturists hundreds of years. Whenever an attempt has been made to cultivate certain fruits above certain latitudes it has thus far proved a failure. Frost is king, and our most experienced experts in horticulture have not beenable. to ward off his icy touch. Many of the trees with which we have experimented will not endure a freezing temperature; others, while not killed, are seriously injured by our long winters, and it is conceded that a heavy frost in early fall, before the wood has properly matured, and while the sap is flowing, often injures trees that seem hardy enough to endure the coldest winter.

in the Minnesota Horticultural Report for 1881, page 41, Prof. Porter says: "Why vitality is destroyed by a low temperature is an unsolved question;" giving us to understand that it may be at some future time. I think we have much yet to learn in the acclimation of the Russian apple before it will prove entirely satisfactory. That it has some good points we must all admit; coming as it does inured to rigorous cold, we hope it may prove all its most sanguine friends anticipate. With these, as with all other new varieties, we should be cautious concerning extensive planting until fully persuaded that success is perched upon its banners.

In Hemsley's Hardy Trees and Fruits, page 563, on "Climate, its Influence on Vegetation," he says: "It is now universally conceded that no process of acclimatization can succeed in making a plant frost proof even to the extent of one degree." Now,

if this be true, can we expect great results from importation of these new Russian varieties? Should we not rather seek for hardy varieties among our own native seedlings? I do not discredit or discourage the introduction of the Russian varieties, but am glad they are received with so much favor by orchardists and experimentalists, and think it is possible that of the many we may find a few hardy enough to be worthy of cultivation, long keeping varieties of good quality.

In the words of another writer, "It is the misfortune of horticulture that there can be no fixed rules of procedure for all places, all varieties, all seasons." Experience, judgment and skill in observation, are needed by all who attempt to become proficient in our calling. Oftentimes the changing of a particular variety only a few miles is disastrous to its best growth and fruitfulness. Hence the necessity of experimental stations under the guidance of specialists to test and prove their adaptability. Some may say we have made progress slowly. Perhaps our failures and discouragements have made us overcautious; still this experience of the past may prove of benefit in the future. Where is he who has undertaken to raise fruit north of fortyfour degrees that has not met with adversities? This does not dishearten a true son of horticulture; only sharpens his perceptions, increases his enthusiasm, and gives him greater appreciation of his successes. Do you think there is one among them that regrets enlisting in this good cause? They each have tried to prove that good fruit can be raised in all parts of our state, which has entailed upon us a large amount of experimental work as a necessity, and although not conducted in the most scientific manner, it has given us food for thought (if not for our stomachs) and helped to develop in us a more intelligent perception of the magnitude of the work.

Some croaker or critic has said that apple trees do not live long enough to be profitable. George J. Kellogg, of Wisconsin, says: "The most profitable pear out of fifty planted was one that never leaved out." This question of the longevity of the apple tree is of little moment, for if fruitful in a very few years it will pay good returns. What did Pliny say of this branch of horticulture over 1800 years ago? "The apple becomes old sooner than any other tree, and the fruit becomes less and is subject to attacks from insects while on the tree." Even though a large proportion die early we shall continue planting to the end of time. should leave no stone unturned that may assist in developing

We

this branch of horticulture, and even if the great secret of success is not solved by this generation, we can but think the thoughtful research and experiments of some of the most intelligent pomologists of this and the old world may result in producing fruit hardy enough for every locality.

EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS

are just at this time receiving attention in both the National and State legislatures, and we most heartily sanction the well-directed efforts that are being put forth to pass the Hatch bill, socalled, when we may look for results that will be of great benefit to the northern portion of the United States; and every friend of horticulture needs to help carry forward this movement so ably begun and zealously worked for. "

Norman J. Colman, United States Commissioner of Agricul ture, in his last annual report, page 32, says:

"I have been able to establish during the year a pomological division in this department. The satisfaction of many leading thinkers with this departure has been generously expressed, not only through correspondence, but through offers of hearty co-operation in the methods employed to establish the division in a proper way. It is too early in the history of the division to enumerate definite results, but there is every prospect that, if properly encouraged, we shall be able to furnish the country, and especially its pomological and horticultural industrie, with information of value. The United States contains some of the largest and best adapted fruit-producing regions in the world. Farmers everywhere are beginning to give thought to the necessity of diversification, and, naturally, a fruit orchard suggests itself as the fit successor of those crops which year after year have been exhausting his soil and lessening his annual profits more and more. The all-important step to the farmer then is necessarily the first one. What can science and the latest results of experience and information teach him in the matter of adaptation of fruit trees to particular soils and climate? This is what the division will endeavor to undertake to set forth. Different pomological experimenters, as well as agricultural colleges, have generously offered their grounds and personal labors to assist in any experiments that may be instituted.

"We may also make investigation relative to foreign fruits and the probability of their successful importation and devel

opment in American soil, to meet the demands of local markets: we may ascertain the habit of every fruit not now known, and in divers ways assist an industry whose annual product probably represents a value of $150,000,000 and is an important one to the United States. Our people need to plant intelligently as well as to reap intelligence through public schools. and it is just as much the province of the general government to assist them in one as in the other. Horticulture is elevating in all its tendencies, and, by advancing and protecting and promoting this and other branches of agriculture, our people will advance in those paths which lead to moral, intellectual and prosperous citizenship.".

This is encouragement in the right direction, and with our central experimental station at the State University Agricultural Farm, and proper lines diverging all over our State, each pursuing experiments according to their facilities, we may in the near future expect marked results. Leaving this matter with them, let us devote our time and energies for the present to the improvement of small fruits, vegetables, shade and ornamental trees and shrubs, such varieties as can be successfully propagated and grown in our gardens, lawns and parks. Here is food for thought worthy of our attention; one that, if treated in the proper manner, should interest our sons and daughters to become useful members in our Society.

HORTICULTURAL EDUCATION.

This brings us to a point of great importance to our organiza tion. How shall we increase our membership and create an interest and desire among our boys and girls for a horticultural education? The following is an extract from a letter received from Commissioner Colman:

"Your reference to having our schools teach the primary principles of horticulture is one that has been frequently broached and urged with more or less persistency, but this is a matter for action on the part of the superintendents of public instruction or the school boards of the several states. Textbooks might easily be introduced."

Here is a suggestion regarding a much needed reform in the education of our rural population. A horticultural kindergar ten may be one of the possibilities of the future in which may be taught the first rudiments of pomology and horticulture. All

education should have special reference to the occupation to be pursued. Feed a boy's mind with dime novels and reading from The Police Gazette and he will be a fit subject for your reformatory prisons. Give his mind horticultural food and the chances are he will become a horticulturist, pomologist, or farmer. It is said that first impressions on the mind of children are lasting and carried all through life. Then decorate the walls of your school rooms in part with instructive pictures of beautiful fruits, flowers and vegetables as object lessons; remodel your text-books by introducing in them practical horticultural teaching, and your sons and daughters, with tastes refined and elevated, will become producers of contented, happy homes and ornaments tosociety, and our industrial organizations of the next generation will receive the accessions they so much need.

One horticultural writer says: "The best means for the promotion of horticulture are those that will the most effectually overcome the obstacles in the way. One obstacle is a lack of taste for the business; another a lack of knowledge of the different varieties of fruits and flowers and the most approved methods of culture."

ENTOMOLOGY.

Our entomologist, Prof. N. H. Winchell, in the report of last year, made some recommendations that need your attention the present session. They will be found on pages 296-7 of the report of the Society for 1886.

Entomology is closely related to the interests of all classes of producers from the soil. It teaches us how to guard our crops from attacks and depredations of all insects, as well as the benefits to be derived from our insect friends. I herewith present a few extracts from a lecture given before the American Pomological Society, in 1886, by A. J. Cook, of the Agricultural College of Michigan:

"Prof. J. A. Litner observes that insects always impose a heavy tax upon the products of man's labor, and often manifest a desire to wrest from him the entire results of a season's toil. It has been estimated that each plant serves six species of insects for food. The names are given of one hundred and seventynine species of insects that are known to attack the apple. The Hessian fly often lays tribute to $20,000,000 worth of wheat in one year in a single state. The chinch bug has destroyed $75,000,000 worth of corn in a single season in Illinois. Thus we