494 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



the man who made Iowa an apple state by producing the Wealthy. 

 The Wealthy has made Minnesota a famous horticultural state. The 

 Wealthy has almost revolutionized orcharding in the northwest. 

 You have reason to be proud of that apple and of old Peter Gideon, 

 with whom it originated. But you have some lights shining here 

 yet that have sometimes given us light, some of those emment men 

 you have sent down to us. We have here a "Brand" of horticulture 

 that we have met several times, we have been blessed by the presence 

 of the "Lord" several times, and your honored president we consider 

 a firm "Wedge" in our horticultural family. I came here to listen 

 and to report the proceedings. I thank you for the honor you do 

 me by permitting me to stand before you and address you, and per- 

 haps I shall from time to time have a word to say as we move along. 

 I cannot always keep still, but I will try to restrain myself and not 

 burden you with any lengthy discussion. Thank you, gentlemen. 

 (Applause.) 



The President: We are very glad to welcome Mr. Ferris and 

 to know that he enjoys being with us. Now we would like to hear 

 from Mr. J. C. Hawkins, representing the Southern Minnesota 

 Horticultural Society, a word regarding the welfare of that society. 



Mr. J. C. Hawkins : I believe, Mr. President, later along in 

 the program I am to appear as representing our society, and at this 

 time I will not take up your time. I have not been able to meet 

 with you for several years past, much to my regret, and I feel this 

 morning as though I were at home. I thank you for affording me 

 the pleasure of appearing before you. (Applause.) 



The President: As the representative of the fourth district is 

 not present, we will take up the report of the fifth district, and I 

 will call upon Mr. Wright. 



Mr. R. A. Wright, of Excelsior, then submitted a "Report of 

 the Fifth Congressional District." (See index.) 

 Discussion. 



The President : We must hasten on with our program, although 

 I am sorry to cut off the discussion. We will next hear from Mr. 

 Taylor repesenting the sixth congressional district. Mr. Taylor sub- 

 mitted a "Report of the Sixth Congressional District." (See index.) 

 Discussion. 



The President : V\'e have given all the time we can spare to the 

 discussion of this report, and as I understand the representatives 

 from the eighth and ninth districts are not present, we shall close 

 the reports of the vice-presidents with that of the seventh district. 



Mr. D. T. Wheaton, of Morris, then submitted the "Report of 

 the Seventh Congressional District." (See mdex.) 



The President : I think it is due to the vice-presidents and to the 

 society that we notice the great improvement in the reports of the 

 vice-presidents. I think there is no department in our society that 

 shows greater progress than these reports that have been sub- 

 mitted here by the vice-presidents, covering the various sections of 

 the state. Many of those read here today have been models, and it 



