president's annual address. 13 



Orchard and garden have been the schoolroom where lessons 

 have been prepared, sometimes at great expenditure of time and 

 means. The problems therein found have been so difficult to solve 

 that often the temptation would come to give up the task. At the 

 annual meetings, all have gathered to give the results of their 

 labors, and many differing answers have been given ; but all have 

 profited by the lessons learned. 



The value of such an organization as our horticultural society is 

 simply marvelous, when considered from a utilitarian point of view. 

 Through its efforts, health, wealth, comfort and happiness have been 

 spread throughout the state. What more could be expected or 

 desired of it? 



We never could have accomplished so much without this parent 

 tree upon which the fruit of our experience could develop. Indi- 

 vidual efforts alone would have been slow in results, if not an entire 

 failure ; but with this society to centralize effort, to encourage 

 systematic investigation, to distribute information freely, it is self- 

 evident that the experimental period of fruit culture is past ; all 

 that remains now to be done is to develop the resources at hand, 

 also to help and encourage others to profit by the knowledge we 

 have gained in the past. The field is boundless in which to work. 

 The practical questions, " How to improve different kinds of fruits 

 and vegetables," " How to protect the home and orchard from the 

 hot winds of summer and the cold blasts of winter," "How to make 

 horticulture profitable," will ever be propounded with ever varying 

 answers, gained by continuous experience. 



There is also the ornamental side with its pertinent topics for 

 consideration, such as, " The development of the artistic character- 

 istics of each farm home," " The tasteful arrangement of lawns,'' 

 " The care of garden and roadside," " The protection and propagation 

 of the beautiful wild shrubs and flowers of Minnesota," "The 

 preservation of the state forests and the stimulation of tree planting 

 upon the prairies." All of these and kindred subjects are of vital 

 importance to Minnesota, and the horticultural society has consti- 

 tuted itself the faithful mentor who will carefully guard and further 

 whatever is essential to her welfare along lines within its control. 

 As a result of this watchful care Minnesota will develop a superior 

 class of intelligent citizens, which will be evidenced by the 

 abundance of fruits, vegetables and flowers, shade and ornamental 

 trees, surrounding every home, from the cabin of the humblest 

 peasant to the well appointed palace of the millionaire. 



The society's work in the past has resembled, somewhat, that of a 

 pioneer missionary. With nothing it could call its own of this world's 

 goods, with a spirit of unselfishness that was willing to sacrifice 

 time and strength, with persistent fearlessness treading unknown 

 forests and prairies, it has blazed paths that others might follow. 

 Contact with the well known mercurial temperament of Minnesota 

 herself has occasionally given rise to a discoloration of its visual 

 organ, that is generally looked upon with disfavor; but, like the 

 missionary, it had to get acquainted, and a playful ebullition of 

 spirit was not deemed discouraging, but simply as a display of 



