Secretary's (^ori^er. 



Why We are Late. — This number has been held to fix the date 

 of the summer meeting-. The July number is liable to be a little 

 late also, on account of the time of that meeting-. 



This Society and the Forest Reserve Board.— The horticul- 

 tural society is one of the associations which is entitled to a repre- 

 sentative on the board to be created under this new law, and some 

 one will be selected for this purpose at the summer meeting of the 

 society. There is work cut out for this board which will call for 

 much self sacrifice on the part of its members, who work witho't 

 compensation. Prof. S. B. Green is a member ex-officio. 



Have You Received the Report for 1898? — After a long delay on 

 the part of the printers, most of which was entirely excusable, the 

 secretary was able, the last week in May, to send out the balance of 

 the 1898 reports due our members. If any have not yet received a 

 copy they are requested to notify the secretary or if living in or near 

 Minneapolis to call at the office in person for them, as reports are 

 not mailed to those living in the city or adjoining- suburban towns. 



The Hill Orchard Best.— "One thing that I am impressed with 

 most is that trees wintered better upon this side hill orchard than 

 than they did in the valley. Our valley orchards are full of 

 blossoms, and most of the trees seem to have escaped without in- 

 jury, but a good many of them show the effects of the winter. I do 

 not think there has been any root killing on our place. I attribute 

 this to the splendid rains we had in the fall that filled the ground 

 up with moisture." — J. M. Underwood, Lake City, May 19, '99. 



Have You Given Away Your 1898 Magazines?— The cloth bound 

 reports are sent to our members with the understanding that they 

 shall give away the magazines for that year, as they now have them 

 in book form. This will give an opportunity to do missionary work 

 for the society. Distribute them among those who are or should be 

 interested in our work and accompany the gift with personal 

 solicitations to unite with us. The inside page of the magazine 

 cover contains information of special interest to new members. 

 Read it. 



The Native Fruits of Alaska. — "We reall}^ do get quite a 

 variety of native fruits. Huckleberries, salmon berries, blueberries 

 and cranberries grow around Dawson — in fact, my brother has them 

 on his claim there. In the Atlan gold fields, about eighty miles 

 from here, where two other brothers are interested, they have wild 

 currants and goosberries as well as the above. If I spend the 

 summer here, as now seems likely, I will try and take personal ob- 

 servations of the fruits and write you. We have established a small 

 vegetable garden on our lot, and I will be able to tell you something 

 of our success with it later." — A. H. Brackett, Skaguay, Alaska, 

 May 7, '99. 



Special Meeting, Minnesota State Forestry Association.— 

 This association, though deprived by the last legislature of its an- 



