STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 63 



papers, addresses, etc., will be ready at the appointed time, and of 

 prize essays we have, up to the present time, seven entries for 

 orcharding in Minnesota, and one on propagation of seedling 

 fruits. 



At the time the program was made up our executive committee 

 were not aware or had forgotten that the Amber Cane Association 

 had adjourned to meet at the same time and place with us this 

 year. As we are now situated, both bodies being here, it may be 

 thought desirable to arrange one joint session or more. To accom- 

 modate this, we have a number of papers that may, if necessary, 

 and if so decided by the society, go into the files for publication 

 without reading, but I would recommend that the society make 

 its own selection from the list lor consideration at this time. 



Respectfully submitted, 



OLIVER GIBBS, Jr., 



Acting Secretary. 



Mr. Brimhall moved the adoption of the secretary's report. 



Carried. 



The secretary. Our worthy brother D. W. Humphrey, of Fari- 

 bault, member of the executive committee, and who in his connection 

 with the society has been faithful to evi^ry trust, is now and has 

 been for some time confined to his house by disease of the heart, 

 so severe as to incapacitate him from any further duty than to think 

 of us and send his good wishes. I have a letter from him which I 

 would like to read. The letter being called for,' was given as 

 follows: 



LETTER FROM D. W. HtFMPHREY. 



Faribault, Jan. 15, 1883. 

 Oliver Gibbs, Jr., 



Dear Sir. — 1 am still here and comparatively comfortable. I should have 

 been much pleased to have met with you this time, but it is not at all probable 

 that I shall ever again even walk around as 1 have been wont to do. My heart 

 is in such condition 1 can make very little exertion; can walk only five or six 

 steps with great care. The pulse only 37 to 40 or so, and no prospect of being 

 any better. The end may come at any time and yet 1 may last tor weeks. 



T shall think much of you at your present meeting and shall read the reports 

 with interest. I had intended to prepare a pap*:'r urging the cultivation of 

 the grape by everybody, as one of tiae most delicious and healthy of fraits and 

 one the easiest cultivated, and giving the quickest and sarest return for time and 

 labor spent. But my writing days are nearly over, and 1 was not able to even 

 prepare a short article. 



Wishing you a pleasant and profitable meeting, I am truly yours, 



D. W. HUMPHREY. 



On motion of Mr. Grimes the secretary was requested to write to 

 Mr. Humphrey, expressing the sympathy of the society. 



