490 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



from an adjoining state from whom we would like to hear at this 

 time, and I will call upon Prof. Erwin of Iowa. 



Prof. A. T. Erwin (la.) : I do not think it is worth while to 

 interrupt the meeting this morning to make any extended remarks. 

 I wish to say that as far as I have gone I have enjoyed the meeting 

 very much, especially so the display of seedling fruits in the room 

 below. That is something that we are interested in in Iowa, and 

 we are going to profit by the experience of your society. We are 

 all here to gain information from you, and I hope to carry back 

 to our state an inspiraton from this meeting that will be productive 

 of good results. Recently our society has organized a state park 

 and forestry association, and we are now trying to do some work 

 along those lines. So we are not confined altogether to pomology, 

 but we are doing something on the decorative side. Our society is 

 increasing in membership, the interest is increasing, and we are 

 looking forward to great results. I extend to you the cordial greet- 

 ing of Iowa horticulturists. (Applause.) 



The President : We are very much pleased to have with us 

 Prof. Erwin, and I believe this is the first time we have had the 

 pleasure of meeting him in our society. We have another gentleman 

 here whom we have often greeted and whom we are glad to see 

 as often as he wishes to come, but on this occasion we take special 

 pleasure in greeting him since he comes here in his official capacity 

 as the representative of the North Dakota Horticultural Society. I 

 will ask Prof. Waldron to come forward. 



Prof. C. B. Waldron (N. D.) : I have not much to say on 

 this occasion, but rather more than I had last year. I made the 

 promise at that time that with the assistance of this society we 

 would try to organize a state society in North Dakota. A half dozen 

 members of this society went to Fargo last winter, and in two hours 

 we organized a society of 130 members, and we now have a mem-- 

 bership of two hundred. It can be considered as the daughter of this 

 society, and the Minnesota society should have full credit for the 

 work done in extending its influence and encouraging and bringing 

 about the organization of new societies. Our meeting for this year 

 has been arranged for January 20, and is to be held in connection 

 with the grain growers' convention, and during the meeting of that 

 convention one day has been set apart for our use in which to discuss 

 horticultural topics. We have made arrangements with the Great 

 Northern Railroad heretofore to furnish free transportation to those 

 who wished to go to Fargo at that time to help us with our program, 

 and I can assure you that this courtesy will again be extended this 

 year, and if any of you can make it convenient to come to Fargo at 

 that time you will have your expenses paid. (Applause.) 



Prof. Green : Can we all go and take our wives with us? 



Prof. Waldron : Yes, you can all come. I am not in the habit 

 of having a blufT called on me in that way. (Laughter.) We have a 

 well organized society, and we are out for all that is good to the 

 limit. (Laughter and applause.) 



The President : We are certainly under obligations to Prof. 



