5l6 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and a great many days into this work, and we are just beginning 

 to see results, and the exhibition we have made of our fruits this 

 year is the best evidence of those results. I hope the interest in 

 horticulture will continue to increase, that the good work will go on 

 and that we shall yet reap a rich harvest. (Applause.) 



Pres. Clarence Wedge, Albert Lea: J see that the president is 

 down on the program for a few closing remarks, but I feel un- 

 worthy to make any remarks after all these members have spoken, 

 and I especially hate to follow Mr. Elliot. I think we may ascribe 

 a great deal of the success of our meetings to the efforts of the 

 local members here in this city, and I think you know pretty nearly 

 who they are. I think they could not have found a more favorable 

 or a more suitable place in the United States if they had all the 

 buildings to choose from, than this quiet and restful sanctuary with 

 its beautiful decorations, and the faces that look down upon us 

 from the two portraits seem to beam a special benediction upon us. 

 In speaking with a friend the other day a good deal of astonish- 

 ment was expressed that we could keep so well together. It really 

 called my attention to a fact I had never thought of before. It 

 never seemed to me that it could be otherwise. I was much 

 pleased to notice this afternoon, even though it is the closing session, 

 that so many were present, and every day we have had just about 

 so many here. The larger number have come early and stayed 

 late or until very near the closing exercises of the meeting. A good 

 many things that were in my mind and that I wished to say to you 

 were stolen by those who have preceded me. I do wish again to 

 commend the beautiful harmony that has been with us during this 

 entire meeting. Whatever the inclination may be of stirring up 

 things, of "stirring up the animals," as the saying goes, the utmost 

 good nature and harmony has prevailed throughout all our discus- 

 sions and deliberations, not only at this meeting but through past 

 years, and I hope this state of things may continue. It seems to 

 me there can be no possible time or occasion for hard feeling among 

 men who are interested in practically the same work, and let us 

 see to it that in the future we do not allow any of the seeds of 

 discord to be sown among us, but let us keep on in this beautiful 

 harmony, the spirit of which has pervaded our entire meeting. Let 

 us carry some of the enthusiasm we have imbibed here home with 

 us into our work. We need it ; we do not know what is before 

 us, we do not know at what time the storm may strike us. and we 

 ought to carry back with us all the enthusiasm we possibly can to 

 help us along through the year to come. Let us try to add to the 

 membership and try to help each other in every possible way. With 

 these words I will declare the meeting closed. (Applause.") 



