LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. OFFICE OF THE KANSAS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, To His Excellency J. W. Leedy, Governor: We have the pleasure to herewith submit to your careful consideration the twenty-first volume of the transactions of the Kansas State Horticultural Society, now in its thirty-second year of active usefulness. The volume is small-the least of all the reports of state departments—yet we believe every one of its 100 pages contains matter of practical utility to the horticulturists of our state. corn Kansas is essentially a horticultural state, and if our citizens would use to best advantage her resources, she would soon become the garden among the states. We have 30 millions of the five leading varieties of fruit trees, and our people consume on their tables annually over 15 million dollars' worth of horticultural products- more in value than our annual yield of all the grains, excepting - and we should grow 95 per cent. of it. We hope the time is near when the table of every tiller of the soil will be loaded, three times a day, at his pleaswith all the horticultural luxuries which our favored climate and fruitful soil will produce, and when canned and preserved fruits and vegetables from outside the state will not hold the most prominent place in our groceries; and when our citizens will demand Kansas products, and will take no other until ours are exhausted. ure, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois kindly forward to us annually instructive reports of horticulture in their various states of 500 pages and upwards. I would remark that none of our reports are stored away in the cellars of the state capitol, the demand exceeding the supply by at least 75 per cent. I am sorry to state that insect and fungus enemies are gaining ground in our state and are discouraging fruit growing. The states are awakening to the necessity of legislating against these pests; and I believe it will be beneficial to call the attention of our next legislature to this matter, as we are in great danger from these destroyers. Horticulture in Kansas will pay for greater state encouragement, and it is regretted that our late legislature did not encourage it to the full limit asked for. We believe no state appropriations bring better returns than those given to horticulture. We earnestly hope that our work may meet with your approval, and that you will use your influence and encouragement as far as you consistently can to advance this one of our great industries. Respectfully submitted. FRED. WELLHOUSE, President. 179527 |