CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS, DEC. 1, 2 and 3, 1892. TOGETHER WITH Reports of the Summer Meeting Held in Bloomington, August 13 and By W. H. RAGAN, Secretary. INDIANAPOLIS : WM. B. BURford, contRACTOR FOR STATE PRINTING AND BINDING. 1892. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. To His Excellency, Ira J. Chase, Governor: GREENCASTLE, IND., March 10, 1892. DEAR SIR-I have the distinguished honor of herewith presenting you the Transactions of this Society for the year 1891, the same being the thirty-first annual report, and in doing so I deem it proper to direct your attention briefly to the character, purposes and wants of the organization. Perhaps no organization of our State is more strictly educational than is this Society. It has no business interests standing back of its work. Its members assemble annually, or oftener, at their individual expense, and present their experiences and observations freely, and without thought or hope of personal reward or self-aggrandizement. The facts thus gathered are carefully collated and published for the information of the people of our State. An examination of the thirty volumes that have preceded this one will fully verify the claim here made, for in this valuable library (for such it is) may be found the ripe experience of not only the leading pomologists and horticulturists of our own State, but also as well of the leading specialists of the Nation, many of whom have personally attended our meetings and contributed to the literature of the Society. It will be seen, therefore, that the Indiana Horticultural Society is not a mercenary or money making institution, or one having only the mutual business interests of its members in view, but an organization having for its basis a broader and far more benevolent purpose-the dissemination of knowledge and the encouragement of one of the highest and most ennobling arts known to men, a calling second only to the dissemination of the Christian religion, in its far-reaching and uplifting influence, for he who feels the inspiring touch of Nature, as all true horticulturists will, must acknowledge the Great Giver of all good. Having thus presented the objects and purposos of this Society, I will briefly allude to its present and future wants, fully believing that you will recognize the same, aud from your high official position as our Chief Executive make such recommendations and grant such support as, in your judgment, you may think befitting and worthy to be bestowed upon us as the partial reward of merit and for the promotion of our future usefulness. This Society has enjoyed for some years past the benefits of an annual legislative appropriation of $1,000 for current expenses. I would respectfully ask that you recommend a continuation of this appropriation. Through some mistake or misunderstanding the publications of this Society, which should be annual, have been provided for on the biennial list. I trust that you will see the propriety of a return to the annual list, and so recommend to the General Assembly. Section 3 of an act of March 10, 1875, which provides for the incorporation of this Society, grants it the use of a room (now No. 11) in the Capitol, to be designated as the Department of Horticulture, which also makes it the duty of the Society to gather in said room a library, museum, etc., which shall be kept in such way as to be most useful for the "Inspection and examination of the people of the State." For the purpose of enabling the Society to comply with this section of law in carrying out its provisions, I would respectfully suggest that you recommend to the next General Assembly an annual appropriation of at least $1,000 for the specific purposes above named. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE INDIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. ARTICLE I. This organization shall be known as the Indiana Horticultural Society. ARTICLE II. The objects of the Society are to develop facts and promulgate information pertaining to the science and art of horticulture. ARTICLE III. Its officers shall consist of a President, four Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer and Executive Committee of three. ARTICLE IV. Its members shall consist of annual members paying a fee of one dollar per annum into the treasury of the Society, and honorary members. who shall be elected by the Society for merit as horticulturists of distinction, who may, at pleasure, participate in the deliberations of the Society. Members' wives. will be members without fee. ARTICLE V. Each member shall be entitled to a copy of the transactions of the Society as often as the same shall be published. ARTICLE VI. The Treasurer shall not disburse money except on the order of the Secretary, countersigned by the President. ARTICLE VII. The Executive Committee shall require of the Treasurer such security as may be deemed sufficient for the safe keeping of the funds of the Society. ARTICLE VIII. The seal of the Society shall consist of an outer rim embracing the inscription, "Indiana Horticultural Society;" within this, and abovethe central figure, consisting of a vase of flowers, a pear and apple resting upon a section of vine with its fruit, the words "Organized 1860;" below, "Incorporated. 1875." 1 BY-LAWS I. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society; he, together with the Secretary, shall have power to call meetings of the Executive Committee; he shall present to the Society in his annual address such suggestions and recommendations as may seem appropriate, and shall appoint all special committees unless otherwise directed by the Society. II. The Vice Presidents shall be designated as 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th, one of whom, in the order named, shall preside in the absence of the President, and each shall be elected to represent his respective district, said districts to be determined by an apportionment to be made by the Society, to be known as the Southern, the |