ANNUAL MEETING, I906. I3 



A pleasant incident at the meeting was the presentation of the 

 names of Mr. Frank Yahnke, Mr. Geo. J. Kellogg and Mr. Chas. F. 

 Gardner, also that of Ex-Pres. Clarence Wedge, as candidates for 

 honorary life memberships, which nominations were confirmed by a 

 unanimous vote of the society. 



There was a change in the decoration of the audience room from 

 last year, which while simpler was also an improvement. Ever- 

 green rope was festooned around the gallery and along the walls 

 across the front of the audience room, and above the president's desk 

 was placed the motto, "He who loves flowers will also care for 

 Him." At another point upon the wall, facing the audience, was 

 a tablet, "In Memoriam,'' followed by the names of many of 

 our members who have died this year, the list being unusually large. 

 This list will be found further on in this number in the annual re- 

 port of the secretary. An oration in memory of these departed 

 ones was delivered by Hon. S. M. Owen, at che Thursday afternoon 

 session. 



The fruit exhibit occupied the basement, as heretofore. A num- 

 ber of suitable mottoes hung upon the walls, and three long tables, 

 with one against the back wall, were filled with apples of unusual 

 size and beauty. The exhibit, however, was not as hrge as the two 

 past years, which fact is easily accounted for by the light apple crop 

 of the state. There was shown about 630 plates of named varieties, 

 twelve plates of grapes, thirteen pecks of apples of dififerent kinds, 

 ten exhibits of canned plums and about one hundred plates of 

 seedling apples. The exhibit of seedlings was considerably smaller 

 than last year but averaged very much higher in size and qual- 

 ity, the exhibitors having learned by experience the futility of 

 bringing to the meeting seedling fruits of little or no commer- 

 cial value. The standard of excellence, adopted by the judges 

 was higher than heretofore and resulted in giving larger propor- 

 tionate amounts of the premiums offered to the fortunate prize win- 

 ners. The premiums in all classes of fruit altogether amounted to 

 $230.21. 



Last but not least to be spoken of is the annual society 

 banquet, at which one hundred and twenty-four sat down at the 

 West Hotel on Thursday evening. The menu was all that could 

 be desired, and as to the program here it follows, judge for your- 

 self: 



Toastmaster : P. V. Collins, Minneapolis. 



Grace : Geo. J. Kellogg, Janesville, Wis. 



