without being likely to notice it. With many of the other exhibits you had either to ask where they were or not see them at all.

Referring to the exhibit of small fruits at the New Orleans Exposition, he remarked: At the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, I happened to be one of the judges appointed to pass on the fruit exhibit. I think we had over 10,000 plates to go over there. That seemed very heavy to us, and it took us a whole week to go over them, yet at the New Orleans Exposition they have fully double the number they had at the Centennial Exposition of 1876.

I can say that it was very gratifying to me to see the really fine and creditable display made by the State of New Jersey, and, though the awards had not yet been made when I left there, I learn since that New Jersey is also very creditably represented there.

On motion, the paper was received and ordered printed in the annual report of the association.

The Chair. I understand there is a resolution to be presented that an invitation be extended to each branch of the Legislature, now in session in the Capitol, to be present with us at our meetings, if possible.

The Secretary.—I move you, sir, that an invitation be presented to each branch of the Legislature, now in session in the Capitol, to attend our sessions.

Seconded, adopted and the invitations sent.

The Chair. It is now in order to appoint the Committee on Credentials, the Committee on Nomination of Officers and an Executive Committee.

On motion, these two committees to be appointed by the Chair.

The Chair. I will announce the committees after awhile. We will proceed to consider the reports of the delegates of the different State and County Boards, where delegates are present. Will the Secretary please call the different Boards of counties, &c., alphabetically?

STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Hon. T. H. Dudley.—I had expected Mr. Clark, the President of the Board, but he is not here. I have no special report to make, other than this, that the State Agricultural Society is in a most flourishing condition. The last exhibition that it held was a most success

ful one-in fact the most successful exhibition it ever held, or was ever held in the State. This applies not only to the financial result, but to the exhibits also. The exhibits were more numerous in this exhibition than in any other we have ever held before.

I think some united effort should be made to extend the usefulness of this institution. I mean more especially in the support of the farming community by joining us and by exhibiting their farm products, as well as their cattle and horses and other products of the stable. If the people of this State would exhibit more largely it would be productive of much more good to them, and it is those throughout the agricultural districts whom it would benefit most.

Last year we enlarged the premiums, and I think they will be still more extended this season. Of course, I make this statement without any authority to do so, but I merely make the statement to you here to show you the advisability of more extended effort on your part.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Mr. J. D. Rogers.-Mr. Williams handed the minutes to me with the request that I should prepare them for publication. I received them from him only last Saturday.

The meeting of this year was largely attended, and the question discussed was that of "Peach Culture," from scientific and practical standpoints, together with the kinds of manures used, the modes of trimming, &c. The quince question was also discussed in all its bearings, referring more especially to growth and varieties. The strawberry question was also discussed, as was also that of potatoes, in regard to variety, yield, manures, &c.

Mr. Williams made an experiment with from thirteen to fifteen varieties of potatoes, in order to see which was the earliest.

He found the "Early Ohio" to be the earliest of those he experimented with. Many of the so-called "early" varieties turned out to be some ten days later than the "Early Ohio."

A friend of mine, a prominent horticulturist, has been attending the New Orleans Exposition. The gentleman I refer to is Mr. Ward. He speaks very gratifyingly of the awards granted the New Jersey exhibits at the Exposition.

A letter appeared in the Newark papers some days since, stating that cards had been placed on the New Jersey State exhibits, and that

the results were very gratifying-that New Jersey need not be ashamed of her showing. Mr. Ward took the premium on ten varieties of pears. Mr. Parry had made four exhibits and had taken the premium on them. They were exhibited to the finest advantage of any fruit in the exhibit.

There will be an abstract prepared to go into the minutes of the Society (the State Board), but I beg the indulgence of the meeting to say a few words in regard to one or two points in the Executive Committee's report.

The first is in regard to the English sparrow.

If there is in this State one unmitigated nuisance, it is the English sparrow. They are becoming so troublesome that we ought to do something to protect ourselves. They are not an insectivorous bird, but destroy an immense quantity of small fruit.

Last year my currant bushes had to be covered to prevent their ravages. It is not only this, but they will go and pick off every bud from the fruit trees. I think this Board should take some united action towards abolishing this unmitigated nuisance.

The second point is in regard to trespassers on our land.

There appears to be no remedy for this. I think laws should be passed making every land owner his own constable and giving him powers to act as a constable whenever he finds any one trespassing on his lands. We are constantly being annoyed and injured by these trespassers, and, when we order them off, are likely to be insulted, or to have a pistol presented to our heads.

I can see but one way to stop these two nuisances, and that is "death to the English sparrows" and "imprisonment for trespassers."

These are the only remedies I can see for these two unmitigated nuisances, for one is just as bad as the other.

Judge Holcombe.—I agree with the gentleman who has just spoken, and think they are just as injurious to vegetation as they are to fruit. They are also making great depredations on our pea crop. They are the worst depredators we have, in fact. Nearly two years ago I had quite a large crop of them planted, and the sparrows were so bad that I told my son to go out and try to frighten them off with his gun. I did not want him to shoot any of them, but merely try and frighten them away by firing off the gun, but he, being a pretty good marksman, thought he would try his hand on them, and fired at them to kill. After he had killed two or three of them they went away, and

stayed away all that day, though the sound of the gun, before he killed any of them, had no effect on them at all.

I omitted one thing which I wished to say about the New Orleans Exposition-only a word. There was a letter published in the papers some days since saying that if New Jersey had done nothing else, she was entitled to the thanks of the whole United States for her exhibit of fruits kept in cold storage. The early fruits, after being exhibited at New Orleans eighteen days, with the temperature varying from seventy degrees to thirty-two degrees, were still in perfect condition.

It was also stated by a prominent pomologist that the exhibit of the State of New Jersey to this Exposition would give a great impetus to the method of keeping fruits by "cold storage."

THE NEW JERSEY AND AMERICAN CRANBERRY GROWERS'
ASSOCIATION.

Rev. J. H. Brakeley.-The report of our last meeting is in the hands of the printer, and also at the service of our Secretary, when wanted. As soon as printed, I will have a copy forwarded to the Secretary for publication in the report.

STATE GRANGE, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

Mr. Cole. I would merely state that, as I am not a member, I have brought nothing with me. I would state that the State Grange of New Jersey is doing a good work for the agriculturists of the State, and for agriculturists in general.

NEW JERSEY BEE KEEPERS' ASSOCIATION.

Mr. J. H. Cook.-I am glad to state that the Society is a successful one, and that it is doing a good work for the bee keepers of the State, helping them in many ways.

I will hand you a written report, giving the officers, &c., in a few days.

The Chair. We would like to have the report as full as possible, giving figures and a detailed statement of the work performed.

Mr. Cook. The reports have not been handed in regularly as to the statistics, in regard to money made on bees, &c.

The Chair. You can perhaps give us a general statement, approximately giving the figures as nearly as possible.

Mr. Cook. Our figures are not handed in regularly enough to give you any reliable statement.

The Chair.-Can you give us the amount of honey produced by your bees?

Mr. Cook. We cannot tell you how much honey was produced in the State.

ATLANTIC COUNTY BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

No delegate present.

EGG HARBOR CITY BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

No delegate present.

BURLINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

H. I. Budd.—I have a written report of our Society, but perhaps it is not in order to read it.

The Chair. I think it would be well to read it, as it will probably be of interest to all present.*

Question.-Did I understand you correctly in regard to the number of bushels of corn raised, per acre, by W. R. Lippincott?

Mr. Budd.-Yes, sir; he raised 120 bushels per acre, and another party raised 122 bushels per acre.

Question.-Did I also understand you correctly in regard to a yield of 900 baskets of potatoes to the acre?

Mr. Budd.-Yes, sir; 900 baskets per acre.
Question.-How much did each basket hold?

Mr. Budd.-About the same as an ordinary peach basket.

Question. Even if the baskets held but a half bushel each, that would be a yield of 450 bushels per acre, and that is certainly an enormous yield. It is simply wonderful. It is the largest yield I ever heard of.

A Member.-How was that result arrived at?

The Chair. I cannot permit this report, which has been made so able, and which is so interesting and so valuable to us all, to pass

* Mr. Budd's interesting report will be found in its proper place in the report.