282 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and where conducted with a reasonable degree of care and intelli- 

 gence have been gratifying- and renumerative to their owners. Every 

 farm should have an orchard and a grove of forest trees, and we 

 farnaers should make an effort to raise fruit trees if for no other pur- 

 pose than to beautify our homes and make them more attractive to 

 our families and the neighborhood. 



The future apple and plum crop will be a profitable one, as or- 

 chard growing has not kept pace with the growth of population. 

 The practice of fruit eating is increasing, as is evidenced by the re- 

 port that we pay out to foreign countries nearly twenty million dol- 

 lars in gold annually for bananas alone. 



There are many interesting experiments for the progressive fruit 

 raiser, opportunities for studying, investigating and digging for ad- 

 vanced methods and ideas. Then let us look to the bright side of 

 horticulture, let us raise a greater variety of fruits and pay less 

 gold to foreign countries for rusty prunes and sandy currants. 



The king of fruits, the apple, can be raised on every farm in south- 

 ern Minnesota. The improvement and cultivation of fruit should 

 engage the attention of the farmer. It is his duty to make himself 

 acquainted with the laws of plant growth and to prevent disease 

 and the ravages of insects so far as his opportunity will permit, so 

 that he may apply the knowledge within his grasp to his own pecu- 

 niary benefit and get a more exalted view of the real dignity of the 

 calling which he is pursuing. 



The field of the fruit grower is large, comprising in its area the 

 orchards, vineyard, small fruits, shrubs and plants. Ills full of va- 

 riety and presents a multitude of objects and lessons calculated to 

 call forth lofty ideas and sentiments and profound reverence for the 

 great Architect who controls all. 



While the entire population of the state is more or less interested 

 in horticulture, the combined membership of the state and auxiliary 

 societies is less than one to several thousand. These societies be- 

 ing the only representatives of an industry that beneficially affects 

 all our people, not only financially but mentally, morally, and phy- 

 sically, it is our duty to consider means for extending their scope and 

 usefulness, with the hope of securing larger attendance and increas- 

 ed enrollment. It is an obvious fact that time yearly gathers its 

 quota from our midst. To fill these gaps in the ranks of horticul- 

 tural volunteers, we must, of necessity, enlist the interest of others. 



Past experiences suggest that the problem how to secure the at- 

 tention of those whom we are desirous of sharing in our delibera- 

 tions is not easy of solution. However, I suggest that we endeavor 

 to attract the attentions of the young. 



This, I believe, may be effected by encouraging the youth of both 

 sexes to prepare essays on horticultural subjects, to be read at our 

 state and auxiliary meetings, as a stimulus to awaken an interest in 

 them in matters pertaining to horticulture, which, if successful, 

 would result in a crop of amateurs that would lead to a more general 

 and permanent interest throughout the state. 



As a further incentive I suggest that premiums be offered for ex- 

 hibits in the way of flowers and fruits, the competitors to be under 

 twenty-one years of age. I believe the society can consistently and 



