466 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



meetings here, and I think each succeeding one that I attend is 

 better than the former, and I think the meeting this afternoon was 

 the best I ever attended. It was particularly interesting to me on 

 account' of the discussion on seedlings. I think my interest in 

 horticulture and seedlings is hereditary. Mr. Elliot told us of the 

 apple seeds he slipped in his pocket, and at the time of my father's 

 death we found in his pocket quite a number of apple seeds that he 

 had saved. I do not think he ever ate an apple but that he saved 

 the seeds and planted them. They did not always do well, but we 

 have quite a number of his seedlings. I came to fhis society in the 

 first place with a great deal of timidity, but I have found it one of 

 the best places I ever entered into. I always feel that there is a 

 great deal that is helpful to me here. I feel that if I just came here 

 and looked about the room and saw the inspiration that is evi- 

 dent in the faces of the members I could not help but be interested 

 in horticulture, but for all that I find that some of your members will 

 bear watching. I want to tell you what happened at the last meet- 

 ing I attended two years ago when I had some seeding apples here 

 on exhibition. I was in the apple room and found Mr. Yankee there 

 getting the fruit ready for Prof. Green to pass upon it. I w^s not 

 near enough to hear what was said, but I think it was something 

 complimentary from what occurred later. About two minutes later 

 Mr. Yahnke asked me where my seedlings were. I was surprised 

 at the question, but I pointed to a plate and told him those were 

 mine. "Those are not yours, they're mine," he said. (Laughter.) 

 I assured him I could not possibly be mistaken, but he would not be 

 convinced until I referred him to the entry, and some time after he 

 found his plate at the other end of the table. I could not help having 

 a suspicion that mine were a little bit better. (Laughter and ap- 

 plause.) 



The Chairman : We have one lady with us who is well posted 

 in the nursery business, Mrs. J. M. Underwood, and we want two 

 minutes from Mrs. Underwood. 



Mrs. J. M. Underwood : I think less than two minutes will do 

 me. I have heard so much since I have been attending this meeting 

 and I am so filled with information that I do not believe I can get 

 my wits into shape to say anything intelligently. However, I would 

 like to express my appreciation of the inspiration I have always re- 

 ceived in attending these meetings and in witnessing the great en- 

 thusiasm displayed. There was a school teacher who attended these 

 meetings for years. I asked her one day why she had so much in- 

 terest in this question. She said, "I just love to go there, for there- 

 is exhibited so much unselfish enthusiasm and interest in humanity 

 in general." I do not know of any other organization in which there 

 are so many unselfish people, and I feel like she did. 



The Chairman: I am going to call on another lady, since the 

 ladies are making the best speeches. Dr. Whetstone, we would like 

 to hear a few words from you. 



Dr. Mary Whetstone : I am not a fruit grower, but I am cer- 

 tainly very much interested in coming here. Every time I come here 



