224 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



not be just as valuable through the state as what they have been 

 doing for the animal industry. 



Supt. O. C. Gregg: If there has been one heart touched here 

 this afternoon, I can safely say that that one is mine. Please allow 

 me to say that this work has not been neglecteu. It did me so much 

 good to listen to Mrs. Hoverstad. I remember the times when for 

 week after week that lady stood on the institute platform and talked 

 home, home, HO'AIE ! Please bear in mind that the superintendent 

 of the institute is not governed by his own will. My place is not to 

 command, but to lead people. I want to say in connection with the 

 Farmers' Institute work that two years ago we started to form or- 

 ganizations of ladies. There was one organization at Lake City, and 

 I want to say that I was compelled to modify the plan that I had in 

 mind, but, as I said before, I am not my own master in th's work, 

 and I sincerely regret that the plan I had in view had to be aban- 

 doned. I am satisfied that upon better and more careful thought 

 larger liberty will be given, and then I hope to see those who wish 

 and desire that there should be an increase of these ladies' organ- 

 izations take hold of these various matters that have been out- 

 lined and that the work will take root and be continued from year . 

 to year. 



A few organizations were started, and in some places they did 

 not have the pc-wer to sustain the work, and in some other places 

 they simply died. Now, here is a work that I have long been in- 

 terested in, and my heart is in it. My word is with it, and all the 

 energy I possess I would like to devote to it and shall devote as long 

 as health and strength stay by me — and that is the movement 

 by which we shall consolidate our common schools. The "little red 

 schoolhouse" has become a thing of the past. The common school is 

 the university of the farm. It is for the lack of that that the boys and 

 girls leave the farm and go to town for the purpose of educating 

 themselves. It is for that reason that the farmer leaves his farm to 

 educate his children in a city. The moment he does that he leaves 

 one of the best means by which children can be educated, and that 

 is the farm itself. (Applause.) The very atmosphere of that home 

 is beneficial. The mind is always busily employed, and there is 

 mighty little chance for the devil to get into it. I have been termed 

 liberal. I am glad I stand in a liberal church, and still I am a 

 Methodist. (Applause.) I like to talk in a liberal atmosphere. I 

 do not believe children come into this world mortgaged to the devil. 

 They can just as well go up as go down, and I believe a little better. 

 That is why I believe in the school and in the consolidation of the 

 schools where you can have grades and where you can have children 

 educated as they should be in farmers' homes. I hope you will con- 

 tinue with this work. My heart and my mind are in any movement 

 that tends to make better and purer and safer the homes of the coun- 

 try and especially the homes of Minnesota. (Applause.) 



Mr. Underwood : I am satisfied. Madam President, that Mr. 

 Gregg's heart is in it. Now, I want him to come here a year from 

 now and tell us that at every . institute that has been held one ses- 

 sion was given over to the improvement of school grounds and 

 the home. (Applause.) 



