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98 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Our honorary life member, J. S. Harris, was prevented from being pres- 
ent, but sent a valuable paper. Ditus Day, Farmington, and J. H. Upton, 
Cresco, Ia., were cordially welcomed as honorary members for 1900. 
Freeborn county made a good display of fifty plates of apples, of which 
the Wedge Nursery furnished thirty-eight. Ditus Day showed two plates 
of his long keeping seedling apple, one being of the crop of 1898. President 
Hawkins had a very fine display of ten varieties of plums. 
While there was no lack of interest at the first session, yet there 
seemed to be an increasing interest as the meeting progressed. 
The report of the fruit committee showed a general failure of the 
apple crop in this territory, a plum crop slightly below the average, and 
where winter protection was given an average crop of small fruit. The com- 
mittee on seedlings reported several promising new seedling apples, some 
of which were long keepers. 
The apple was prominent on the program and in the discussions, but a 
fair share of the time was given to the plum, small fruit, evergreens, and 
ornamental shrubs. 
Rey. R. C. Mosher, of Albert Lea, gave an address on “Gladiolus Cul- 
ture.” He advocated a more general culture of this magnificent flower, 
which showed every color and blending of shades, and which was as easily 
cared for as a potato crop. He considered that these three things were 
necessary to success in raising the gladiolus: a deep rich soil, deep planting 
and abundance of moisture. 
No change was made in the fruit list. A committee appointed by 
President Hawkins submitted a list of apples, crabs and plums, giving per- 
centage of each, for guidance of Minnesota farmers in setting out small 
orchards. The list which was adopted and recommended by this society 
is as follows: 
APPLES. = 
Wealthy, 20 per cent; Patten, 10 per cent; Longfield, 10 per cent; Hiber- 
nal, 6 per cent; Repka Malenka, 5 per cent; Duchess, 6 per cent; Tetofsky, 
4 per cent. 
CRABS AND HYBRIDS. 
Martha, 6 per cent; Sweet Russett, 4 per cent; Minnesota, 4 per cent; E. 
Strawberry, 2 per cent; Whitney, 4 per cent. 
PLUMS. 
De Soto, 7 per cent; Stoddard 5 per cent; Wyant, 4 per cent; Aitkin, 2 per 
cent; Miner. 2 per cent. 
An interesting and instructive program prepared by the ladies of Albert 
Lea was given at the Wednesday evening session. Mrs. C. E. ‘Brainerd. 
Albert Lea, presided. A paper by Mrs. Ober, Albert Lea, on “Woman’s 
Work in the Improvement League,’’ showed the importance of the work 
done by the Woman’s Federation of Clubs, and advocated the organization 
of local Improvement Leagues in every city and village. A paper on 
“Needed Reforms in Villages and Cities,” by Miss Southgate, Albert Lea 
College, pointed out needed reforms in sanitary laws and a more rigid en- 
forcement of existing laws. All taking part in the discussions favored the 
suggestions presented in these papers. The first prize essay on “Why and 
Where I Would Plant Evergreens,’’ was read at this session. Several 
