206 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



time flower beds, and was such a constant bloomer that it became 

 a necessity to the home horticulturists of the days gone by. Agera- 

 tum, both white and lilac colored, was cultivated very g-enerally» 

 and the sweet alyssum was pretty and very useful in bouquets. 

 The aster, too, had a place in our yard gardens, and we sometime 

 grieve that our facility for gratifying our horticultural tastes has 

 been so much curtailed by modern improvements. But we realize 

 that "passing away" is written on everything earthly, and we try to 

 look forward and upward to that land of which the poet sings: 



"There everlasting spring abides 

 And never withering flowers," 



and our hearts grow warm with gratitude to Him who has made so 

 many beautiful things to cheer us on our way. 



In every horticultural library should be found Sanitine's interest- 

 ing story of "Picciola," which illustrates beautifully the effect of a 

 single flower upon the Count of Charney, during his imprisonment 

 for some political offense in the reign of the great Napoleon. The 

 book should be in every horticultural collection, and one cannot 

 read it without a feeling of love for Him who said of the lilies of 

 the field that "Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of 

 these." 



Mr. J. S. Harris: I wish to say to this audience that it is a 

 source of great pleasure to me to listen once more to the words 

 of Mrs. Van Cleve. Four years ago this summer Wyman 

 Elliot took me to her place, and it did me good to see her 

 flowers. It was often an inspiration when she came out to our 

 meetings, and I am glad to see she was not forgotten by the 

 society this year. It is my hope that she may live much longer 

 to note the progress of the work she so much loves. 



Effect of Cold on Seeds. — Wheat, oats and certain grass seeds 

 were chilled to 312 degrees below zero in liquid air and kept at that 

 temperature for periods of varying lengths. They were then 

 planted and the usual proportion sprouted. Other tests indicate 

 that few of the harder kinds of seeds or grains are injured by freez- 

 ing or by ordinary zero temperatures so long as they are kept in a 

 dry place. Wheat known to be 3000 to 5000 years old, found in 

 Egyptian mummies, has been successfully germinated and we be- 

 lieve matured its seed. — Ex. 



