= $7 = 
246 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
varied vegetation at the bottom of the ocean, and a further ocean journey to 
visit the sea lions. 
Mr. A. F. Braton responded somewhat at length to Mr. Underwood’s 
graphic account by showing in a forceful manner the opposite side of the 
picture, relating about all that isto be said of the disadvantages of California 
as regards climate, products and commercial outlook, fortifying his state- 
ments by liberal quotations from an old Minneapolis resident. 
The program was further carried out by papers from F. J. Pracna, 
Minneapolis, on “Growing Mushrooms by an Amateur,” “A Plea for Nature 
Study in the Public Schools, Drawn from Experience,’ by Mrs. M. M. 
Barnard, Minneapolis, and “School Gardens,” by O. M. Lord, Minnesota : 
City, all of which will elsewhere be given in full. 
On account of the lateness of the hour Mr. J. T. Grimes, at his own 
request, was reluctantly excused from the reading of his paper “The Army 
of Flowers.” He will present it at a future meeting. 
Professor Shaw was questioned in regard to the visit of the children to 
his garden, as described by Mrs. Barnard, and said in part: 
“The work was to me a revelation. The strangeness of the request 
almost startled me—that I should talk to the children on gardening, but 
I have been a thousand times thankful that I did so. I had some misgiv- 
ings, as some apparently did not know the difference between a potato and 
an onion. One, pointing to the potato plants, asked me if they were onions. 
Though I thought it would be a difficult matter to talk to the children, I 
never had a more synipathetic audience. After the very first word they were 
captured. The used their note books, and asked me many questions in re- 
gard to the work. ne of the most pleasing features is the many letters l 
have since received from my visitors. One of those schools has sent me 
ninety letters, in which the pupils thanked me for the trouble I took in talk- 
ing to them. Some went over and gave almost verbatim what I had told 
them. I would not take silver or gold, or even diamonds, for these 
letters. Another feature which gratified me very much was the often ex- 
pressed desire to attend the school of agriculture. Heretofore the exodus 
has been from the farms to the city. Here is an idea, which if properly 
worked, may change the tide from the city to the country. The thanks of 
the public are due to the Minneapolis Improvement League, and to Mrs. 
Barnard in particular, for the advanced work which they have done in this 
matter.” 
Professor Hays spoke of the work he is inaugurating in preparing leaf- 
lets to aid in introducing the study of agriculture in the country schools of 
North Dakota. These contain models of gardens, with much elementary 
and practical instruction. There will be opportunity later of reporting this 
work more fully. 
Just before adjournment, Mr. Underwood reported for the committee 
appointed to consider the project of a memorial to Peter M. Gideon. They 
made recommendaticn as follows: 
That this society raise a fund of $1,000, to be called ‘““The Peter M. 
Gideon Memorial Fund for the Promotion of Education in Horticulture;” 
that the fund when completed be handed over to the Board of Regents of the 
University of Minnesota to be administered in trust for the following pur- 
pose: The interest only of this fund (the principal to remain intact) to be 
offered in suitable premiums to the members of the class or classes in horti- 
