fflSTORY OF HORTICULTURE IN MINNESOTA. 129 



Mr. Harris thereupon presented the following report : 



REPORT OF THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. 



Mr. President and Friends of Horticulture: 



I notice by the programme of this meeting, that a report is expected from the Corresponding 

 Secretary. During the year since our hist annual meeting there has been but little corres- 

 pondence, except such as referred to making arrangementsfor our meetings and the soliciting 

 of essays, etc. We are not in correspondence with any local or county society, for the reason 

 that we have no record of such societies, or list of their officers, and I sugsest that at this 

 meeting we should pass a resolution re(|uesting all such societies to become auxiliary to the 

 State Society in so far as to make an annual report to it. accompanied with a list of the 

 names and postoffice address of their officers. I think it would also prove beneficial to us to 

 send delegates to the Winter meetings in the adjoining States of Wisconsin and Iowa. Both 

 of those States have older organizations than ours, a larger membership, and a greater record 

 of experience. 



Last Summer I received a communication from A. S. Fuller, agricultural editor of the 

 N'ew York Sun, making inquiries about a beetle that Mas making destructive ravases upon 

 the grape vines in some sections of the State, in which he expresses a desire to secure a 

 collection of insects from u>. Through private correspondence I have learned that fire blight 

 has prevailed to an alarming extent in some sections. The crop of apples last year Avas 

 somewhat less and of poorer quality than of the year preceding, but not so much so as to 

 create any fears of final success. The exhibition of our Sociey at the State Fair was superior 

 to any ever made in the State, and must forever silence the croakers, and redeem us from the 

 reputation of being a State where the people must forever cherish the idea of sitting under 

 their own vine and apple tree. Grape culture is extending rapidly, and Minnesota grapes 

 have taken the front rank for their good qualities. The cultivation of flowers is largely on 

 the increase, and I think the time is near at hand when every home throughout our State 

 will have its flower garden. The demand for fruit trees is not on the decline, and large 

 quantities are imported from other States, but as our enterprising nurserymen are enlarging 

 their business. I think the demand will soon be met at home. There is also an increasing 

 demand for evergreen, forest and ornamental trees, and the action of this Society upon them 

 will be eagerly received by thousands who are about to plant them. I have secured an essay 

 on evergreens, from George Finney, of Sturgeon Bay. Wis., the editor of the Evergreen and 

 Forest Tree Grower, which is a cheap, live paper that I can recommend to all who are inter- 

 ested in'their culture. 



We have in our State one paper, the Farmem' Union, devoted entirely to the interest' of 

 agriculture and horticulture, and I think we ought to declare it the official organ of this Society, 

 and aid its publisher in trying to extend its circulation and writing more freely for its 

 columns. There is talent enough with the editor and fruit growers of the State to make it 

 equal to any journal in the Union. 



Since the State Agricultural Society has given over tlie management of the horticultural 

 department of the fairs to this Society, a thorough revision should be made of the premium 

 list, that encouragement may be given to the greatest possible number of exhibitors, and a 

 reform is needed in the report of committees. A detailed written report should be made, 

 giving the grounds upon which A. B and C receive large premium*, and these reports should 

 be acted upon and incorporated in the proceedings of our annual meetings, that the mass of 

 the people may become more thoroughly educated in horticulture. The adoption of such a 

 rule would add to the labors of the committee, but would greatly enhance the value of our 

 annual proceedings and increase the interest in the exhibition. 



As soon as practicable, a geographical, mineralogical. entomological and meteorical report 

 should be secured from each county, and. if possible, sectional maps, showing outlines of the 

 timber and prairie sections, also, the land and clay soils, that when a successful horticulturist 

 takes a premium, the people may know what peculiar circumstance of soil and other cir- 

 cumstances have favored him. Although success is the result of knowledge rightly applied, 

 the knoAvledge of how the thing is done in Houston and Winona counties might not be ad- 

 apted to Hennepin and Ramsey counties. 



I further suggest that standing committees be appointed upon ornithology, entomology, 

 fruit lists, ornamental and useful trees, evergreens, orchards, vineyards and flowers, each 

 member expected to give an individual report. 



Another strenuous effort should be made to secure aid from onr Legislature to enable us to 

 scatter broadcast throughout the State the information that has accumulated on our hands 



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