. 
PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS, SO. MINN. HORT. SOCIETY. 407 
Grapes, I believe, were the finest ever grown in the county. Plums 
bloomed freely, but the frost killed a large portion of the buds, and insect 
enemies and fungous diseases seriously injured the balance of the crop. Last 
year you made provision for the distribution of seedling apple trees to the 
members of our society, and it proved to be very acceptable and satisfactory, 
and I would recommend its continuance another year. 
Last fall and through the winter thus far, I have had this question asked 
me many times, “If you were going to set a farmer’s home orchard, what 
varieties would you plant?” I would suggest that this society should recom- 
mend a list for general planting in our territory, say twenty-four trees—i. e., 
apple trees, ten, crabs and hybrids, eight, and of plums, six. 
The proceedings of the auxiliary societies show them to be active and 
progressive. They are to be congratulated upon the good work they are do- 
ing for horticulture in our state. 
Now the society is in condition financially to lift something of the burden 
from the secretary’s shoulders. I advise the payment of a salary and his 
necessary expenses, and the president should be furnished stationary and 
postage. As so far conducted the preparation of the program comes in a 
very busy season of the year, which makes it very difficult for the president 
and secretary. 
I further suggest that each person in the house walk up to our agree- 
able secretary’s desk and cause one of those silvery smiles to illuminate his 
physiognomy by depositing a dollar membership fee, and he will very 
gladly engross your name upon our society’s records and thus insure to your 
president and secretary a good night’s rest. 
In making these various suggestions, I have but one aim, the prosperity 
of this society and through it the advancement of horticulture. I trust that 
you will be able to plan wisely and execute efficiently. And now at the close 
of this meeting I return to your hands the trust which you have confided in 
me the past four years. I thank you for the honor which you have con- 
ferred upon me. But more than all, 1 am glad of that friendly appreciation 
which prompted your action. And I assure you that my association with 
the genial, earnest, and intelligent members of the Southern Minnesota Hor- 
ticultural Society will afford me many pleasant and cherished memories while 
I live. 
MISSION OF TRIAL ORCHARDS. 
A. J. PHILIPS, WEST SALEM, WIS. 
This has been quite a study of mine, and during that part of my life that 
has been devoted to orcharding I have many times wished I had been fav- 
ored with a chance to visit a good, well conducted trial orchard before I em- 
barked in the business. It would have saved me money and time. Trial 
orchards are known by different names—at Madison, as experiment station; 
the same at St. Anthony Park; at Owatonna, as the Minnesota tree station; 
at Ithaca and Weyauwega, as trial acres. All private orchards are tria! or- 
chards to the extent that they are planted and managed. Particularly in the 
north, all experiments are really trials. Their mission is to benefit those in 
whose interest they are conducted. If paid for by the state, then the tax- 
payers of the commonwealth should be benefited. If paid for by individuals, 
