12 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The question hour was a new feature ui our meeting in the 

 form in which it was offered, on one occasion presided over by 

 Prof. Green and on the other by Mr. A. J. PhiHps. The fire of 

 questions and answers was not picked up by the reporter, and only 

 those who were present on those occasions will get the benefit of 

 what took place there, except as passed on from them to others. 

 _ On account of the new and growing interest in plant-breeding, 

 f.pecial lessons were given in the cross-pollination of flowers by Mr. 

 Max Pfaender, of the State Agricultural College, using models for 

 this purpose and explaining them individually to such as were inter- 

 ested in the subject. The large number who participated in this 

 exercise indicates the growing desire for information in regard to 

 it. There should be a lot of fruit blossoms crossed next spring as a 

 result of these lessons. 



The fruit list for 1907 was adopted as before v/ith very slight 

 changes. The new list will be found in this monthly. The com- 

 mittee on seedling fruits presented to the meeting some very fine 

 specimens, and Mr. Elliot, the chairman, gave an extended and prac- 

 tical talk on the suWect, illustrating various points with the speci- 

 mens in hand. 



There was in attendance a very full quota of delegates and 

 other visitors from abroad. The following gentlemen were with 

 us as representatives of our sister societies : Eugene Secor, Iowa 

 State Society ; C. H. True, Northeastern Iowa ; L. A. demons, 

 Northwestern Iowa ; N. O. P. Synoground, South Dakota ; W. J. 

 Moyle, Wisconsin ; Prof. C. P. Blair, Illinois ; Prof. R. A. Emer- 

 son, Nebraska ; all of whom were made honorary members for one 

 year. 



We were in hopes to have had Prof. N. E. Hanson with us, 

 just back from a tour in Russia and Siberia, looking for new hardy 

 fruits and grasses, in accordance with a postal card received from 

 him December 3rd, mailed from Vladivostok, Siberia, dated No- 

 vember 3rd. A telegram from him sent from San Francisco Tues- 

 day morning, however, showed us the impossibility of his attendance, 

 which we regreted exceedingly. 



The annual election passed off with the usual harmony, Prof. 

 Samuel B. Green being elected president in the place of the re- 

 tiring president, Mr. Clarence Wedge, who gracefully presented the 

 name of Prof. Green as his successor. The close of <;he election 

 showed no change in the executive board. Mr. Geo. W. Strand 

 was elected treasurer, successor to Mr. A. B. Lyman, who has filled 

 the position with entire satisfaction for six years. 



