104 ANNUAL REPORT 



For general trial, Cuiuberland Triumph, Miners Prolific, Red Jacket 

 and Pioneer. 



For trial by Amatuers, Bidwell and Iowa Prolific. 



BLACKBERRIES. 



Stone's Hardy recommended for trial. 



WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 17. 



Paper by Col. Stevens, (not furnished the Secretary.) 

 Upon motion of Col. Stevens, Chas. Hoag was elected an honorary 

 life member of the society. 



FOREST TREE CULTURE. 



ADDRESS BY S. M, EMERY. 



The consideration of tiie above vital question is of the greatest importance to us 

 as horticulturists. Upon it depends largely the successful opening up and maintain- 

 ing of homes on the vast prairies extending from the Mississippi to the base of the 

 Rockies. 



This vast region is treeless, excepting an occasional belt skirting the water courses 

 that intercept the country. 



We can obtain no detinite idea of the immensity of this country by scanning the 

 map and saying it is a tract so many hundred miles long and broad. Infinity is al- 

 most as well comprehended, or the earth's distance from the sun. 



To approximate a correct idea one must see for themselves. Go into the Red river 

 valley, if you please, where from the extreme levelness, (if the expression be allow- 

 able), the impression forces itself upon you that you are in the center of a vast de- 

 pressed circle, the circumference of whicli arises to the horizon miles away and 

 stretches out on all sides, a vast inclined plane up which yoh must ascend to reach 

 the apparent level beyond. 



These lands, as a rule, are fertile and highly desirable, with the exception of an 

 occasional stony tract or sand hill, rendering the soil unfit for wheat culture but 

 offering much needed building material. 



This is literally a Garden of Eden, with naught to do but to enter in and take pos- 

 session, and to give you an idea of the countless host which is entering in and taking: 

 up the land, I will, by the courtesy of the United States land oflScials at the follow- 

 ing offices, give the figures of timber culture entries, first reciting the total number 

 to present date, since the opening of the offices, and second the entries for the year 



1881: 



Up to Entries, 



Date. 1881. 



"Watertown, Dakota 5,044 1,14» 



Mitchell, D. T • 7, 274 1 , 369 



Fargo, Dakota 1.329 



Redwood Falls, Minn 1,266 70 



Total 13,684 3,909 



These you will observe are the land oflaces that we as members of the State Horti- 

 cultural Society of Minnesota, may class as our neighbors, and to these seventeea 



