HISTORY OF HORTICULTURE IX MINNESOTA. 173 



Mr. Smith went into a history of some electrical phenomena bearing npon 

 blight, as he supposed. 



Capt. Paist thought that Col. Stevens was in a good position to investigate 

 this matter of ])light, and he hoped that members would take the Farmers' 

 Union, for that, amongst other reasons, and he would constitute himself an 

 agent for the paper — with the Colonel's permission — to extend the circulation 

 of the paper and pursue this investigation. 



Mr. A. W. Latham recognized the great mischief accomplished by blight, 

 and gave instances to illustrate it. He said that Mr. Gideon's experience was 

 tliat trees were worst visited on matured land. 



Mr. Gould had known trees standing in tields covered with grass and weeds 

 which had escaped blight. He thought the chances were better, perhaps, on 

 light and drv ground than on low grounds, 



Mr. Brand said he had as rich ground as any in the State, and the past year 

 he had not been troubled with blight at all. His exp'jrience was that the 

 crabs suffered worst ; the Vestal Rose worst of all. 



Mr. Elliot moved that the topic under discussion be suspended, as Presi- 

 dent Folwell. now in the hall, desired to make some communication to the 

 Society. 



Agreed to. 



President Folwell said all were aware that the State Agricultural College 

 was too poor to have done anything hitherto, owing to the limited sale of 

 lands, but their circumstances were improving. If they had some small 

 means, they would be glad to start a small greenhouse and garden, and he 

 hoped the Society would entertain this view of the case. He would read the 

 resolutions following, hoping that somebody else would take up this matter 

 and push it through : 



Whereas, The instruction of our j'outh in science and practice of fruit, flower and garden 

 culture is a matter of great public interest and importance; and 



Whereas, The Governor of the State has twice recommended, in annual messages, that the 

 Agricultural College, now a department of the State University, be charged with the propa- 

 gation and distribution of forest tree seeds and plants, and in general with encouraging and 

 stimulating the culture of forests; and 



Whereas, The Board of Regents of the University have hitherto been unable, by reason 

 of the failure to dispose of the lands forming the endowment of the institution, to undertake 

 the important work indicated: therefore, 



Resolved, That this Convention respectfully ask the Legislature, now in session, to make 

 a liberal appropriation for the erection of a greenhouse and the preparation of a botanic 

 garden, and also an additional annual appropriation for the support and maintenance of the 

 same, until such time as the University funds shall be suflacient for the purpose. 



Resolved, further. That the President and other officers of this Society be a committee, who 

 shall bring this measure to the attention of the Governor and the Legislature. 



Resolved, further. That this convention hereby pledge themselves to the hearty support of 

 the enterprise contemplated in the foregoing articles, and that they have pleasure in con- 

 veying to the Legislature the assurance that the horticulturalists of the State stand ready to 

 stock the garden and greenhouse of the Agricultural College, whenever the same may be 

 ready to go into operation free of expense. 



Resolved, That we fully concur with the resolution of President Folwell as to the necessity 

 of the State giving at once aid to the Agricultural College. Further, we deem the course of 

 former Legislatures towards the laboring interests of our State as fatal, and we would 

 respectfully urge upon the present Legislature a liberal appropriation for the opening of a 

 botanical garden and grounds upon the farm, to train the youth in the art and love of labor. 



