THE STUDY CLUB. 355 



this &t<i7>r<';er there were streets laid out straight and long, and on 

 both sides of the driveway were rows of beautiful trees, and along 

 the sidewalk there was a beautiful avenue of trees, and so it was 

 on a half-dozen of those long streets — they were beautiful with the 

 trees that had been planted there. I learned that the authorities 

 had made a special provision for a rebate of taxes for those who 

 would plant trees along the road, and there they had made a bleak, 

 scattering prairie village that I had seen only a few years before 

 look like a veritable paradise. That is not all : Besides those trees 

 there had been planted fruits, small fruits of various kinds, rasp- 

 berries, strawberries, apples and all sorts of fruit, everything doing 

 nicely. Strawberries had gone through the winter in excellent con- 

 dition, those trees protected them, and this was in a place where it 

 was predicted that vegetation would be a failure, in the Red River 

 Valley. This was in the village of Argyle. First was this love of 

 trees which encouraged the people to plant them, then came later 

 the product of the fruit, and it was sentiment and not money they 

 got out of it. So I wanted to take this opportunity before this sub- 

 ject was passed by to say these things to you to convince you of the 

 great importance of the subject these ladies have presented to you 

 this afternoon and try to make you feel that these subjects should 

 not be passed by without some comment, some additional word from 

 you and me. I thought if we did that perhaps the ladies would be 

 better reconciled to the fact of not bringing our wives with us. If 

 they have made some impression upon us that will be some satisfac- 

 tion. (Applause.) 



Mr. J. M. Underwood : I want to take just a moment of time, 

 I do feel something like a Methodist just now, although I was 

 brought up a Quaker. I cannot refrain from urging the importance 

 of this auxiliary society of the jNIinnesota State Horticultural Soci- 

 ety. I had a little something to do with its inception, and I do be- 

 lieve if the women who rightfully belong in the horticultural ranks, 

 the wives of the members, the wives of horticulturists, and other 

 women who otherwise would never have an interest in horticulture, 

 if they would realize the opportunity they would have in working 

 along with this auxiliary society, they would in a very few years 

 have a stronger organization than the men have. This is almost 

 altogether a society made up of men, of men who have become 

 members who have paid a dollar for their membership, but I believe 

 it is possible to have a society of women that will almost double 

 that of the men if they would only realize the possibilities that lie 

 before them. I want to tell you that I believe if the women would 

 come in and do the work it would be done in a more practical way 

 and it would be better work than the men are doing. I received a 

 letter this summer from a lady whom I had never met. She said, 

 "I understand you are superintendent of the agricultural department 

 of the state fair, and I want to inquire of you if it would not be 

 possible to have a practical exposition given there in connection 

 with your department of the proper way of planting trees, the prop- 

 er distance apart to plant them and the proper care that should be 

 given them." I will not take time to tell you what a practical letter 



