HISTORY OF HOKTJCULTLUK IN MINNESOTA. 113 



will buy again, and, in the lantruage of Dr. Warder, '-We will educate our 

 people in horticulture. Give them such fruit as j'ou know will grow, and 

 they soon will want more and better fruit." 



1 shall not recommend any particular course to be followed in the discus- 

 sion of the various subjects that will of necessity present themselves. Do 

 this in your own good order and time. It is quite trUe that the proceedings of 

 this Society should be spread broadcast over the land, so that the people may 

 know the progress made in oar particular line. In view of this I would 

 recommend that a petition be presented to our Legislature now in session, 

 for a small annual appropriation to be used in the printing of our proceedings 

 in pamphlet form. Also, for the establishment and maintenance of experi- 

 mental gardens in diiferent parts of the State. I doubt not but the land 

 would be freely donated in the ditferent sections. We also want the appro- 

 j)riaiiou to cover an amount that we could offer annually as premiums on the 

 best fruit grown in the State. I think the State can do no less than make 

 the appropriation. What has the State done for agriculture? It should cer- 

 tainly do the same, if not more, for its better-half, horticulture. Their inter- 

 ests are the same. The State Agricultural Society receives annually, over 

 one thousand dollars from the State. There is no good reason w^hy our 

 Society should not receive State aid. As an inducement for emigration, the 

 fact of the successful production of fruit is almost, if not quite, equal to ihat 

 of our whole combined agricultural resources. Especially this is so in regard 

 to those who are seeking new homes from the fruit growing parts of the con- 

 tinent. 



The Society was ably represented at the recent American Pomological 

 Society, held at Richmond, Virginia, by its delegate, P. A. Jewell, Esq., of 

 Lake City. The fruits selected by him from difterent sections of the State 

 attracted much attention, and the commendations bestowed from the mem- 

 bers of the National Society, as well as the press, iliust be extremely grati- 

 fying to every Minnesotian. His report will form an interesting part of the 

 records of this meeting. The Treasurer's report shows a small balance in 

 hand. 



We cannot easily estimate the good already accomplished. There is a large 

 field for its continued usefulness. During the past few years, much atten- 

 tion has been given to the vineyard. Grapes of very many varieties, some of 

 a semi-hardy character have been introduced with the most flattering results. 



There is a growing appreciation by our people for choice plants, rare flow- 

 ers, and ornamental shrubbery. It is with pleasure that we notice a fondness 

 for evergreens. 



It is your duty and business to cultivate this appreciation : and you ^vill 

 soon find that you cannot supply the demand unless you add greatly to your 

 nursery stock. 



It is to be regretted that some system has not been adopted by State 

 authority, or that some premium list has not been offered to encourage the 

 planting of trees, in the prairie districts of the State. 



It is only a question of time when tree planting will be encouraged by law. 



15 



