STATE HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. Ill 



Fortunately, before the burning of the capitol last winter, I had secured a large 

 number of our reports, in addition to those already on hand, and with the excep- 

 tion of 1S70, we now have several hundred copies of each issue. These will all be 

 wanted in time, as each convert to horticulture joining our society is anxious, and 

 justly entitled to complete his files of our reports. Add to this the demand from 

 kindred societies and public libraries shows the wisdom of giving carefull}' in our 

 liberality. 



With the consent and advice of our president I had constructed a numl)er of 

 strong cases, to contain all our volumes and they are now all arranged and as- 

 sorted, each case being marked with number and date of contents. So far I have 

 been able to furnish a room for the storage of these boxes without cost to the so- 

 ciety, but I am unable longer to do so, and would suggest that some immediate 

 steps be taken to secure a suitable room, that would be at once convenient of ac- 

 cess and secure from lire. 



It is reasonable to suppose that upon the completion of our State capitol build- 

 ing we will be able to secure a room in that for this purpose, and also for the pur- 

 poses of our meeting, if so desired, and the plan for storage need only be considered 

 temporary. 



"With its customary liberality in forwarding projects of public weal, our last 

 regular session of the legislature granted us an annual appropriation of $1,000 to 

 aid us in our work, and also increased the number of our reports to l)e printed by 

 the State, and also allowed us an increased number of pages. 



The same act provides for the distribution of almost one-half of them. As there 

 was no room for the current year's publication in the State document room, at the re- 

 quest of the secretary of State I took cliarge of the entire 5,000 copies and made the 

 distribution as required by law, so far as I thought best, without consulting the so- 

 ciety. I have delivered to the chief of the immigration bureau 500 copies, and sent 

 fifty copies to each county agricultural societj^ and local horticultural society in 

 the State and the State Agricultural society. 



The law further provides that each periodical published in the State and each 

 member of the legislature shall have a copy, but as no authority is vested in me to 

 pay postage on so large a number of copies, I have left this for j'our consideration. 



As ])Ound volumes are so much more desirable for preservation, I took the re- 

 sponsibility of ordering 500 copies in cloth, samples of which are being distributed 

 to members of the meeting. 



There has been one meeting of the executive committee, one of committee on 

 premium lists, and a fall meeting of the society at Lake City, of which all have 

 had due notice, and full reports are hereby submitted, consisting of premiums 

 awarded, with names of exhibitors, etc., the discussions and addresses at the Lake 

 City meeting, which will be an important factor in next ruport. 



The last report was in the hands of the printers early in the spring and was the 

 first State horticultural report ready for distribution. This is due much to the 

 promptitude of the State printer, J. K. Moore of St. Peter; and t lie work is credit- 

 ably done. Errors have crept into it that would not he there if thu Avork had been 

 done in St. Paul or Minneapolis, as the distance compelled proof seucHng by mail, 

 which prevented the careful revision necessary to in.sure correctness, ^'^'hile these 

 reports are good for all time, the current year's publication soems to be Tuimsnded 



