284 MINNEAPOLIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



trained in science, but practically he was a ship carpenter, zoologist, 

 horticulturist and a preacher of rig^hteousness, all without a text- 

 book. At our last state meeting it was suggested to our legislative 

 committee to call the attention of the legislature to the importance 

 of changing the law in regard to the distribution of the state horti- 

 cultural reports so as to put them into every common school dis- 

 trict in the state that has a library. I am heartily in favor of that 

 suggestion. 



During the year I have made inquiries asking if the state horti- 

 cultural society or this society had given authority to any tree 

 agents to represent the stock they were selling as being recommen- 

 ded by these societies. Complaints have also come to my notice of 

 orchards coming into fruitage, bearing entirely different varieties 

 of apples from what the purchaser bargained for. This is only a 

 repetition of the old story, but it suggests that continued efforts 

 should be made on the part of the society to suppress this evil and 

 to protect us from infected nursery stock, San Jose scale and other 

 insects, as far as deemed practical. 



Horticulture from mythical Eden to the present time has its his- 

 tory. Ancient horticulture as compared with modern was crude as 

 was their civilization, but centuries have moulded the pursuits of 

 life, horticulture has merged from its primitive state to more prac- 

 tical conditions and a scientific basis. The unity of the practical 

 with the scientific is what makes the finished product in every art. 

 We glean from the pages of the past that in all times horticulture 

 has been the favorite pursuit of the more advanced races and of the 

 foremost men. "God Almighty first planted a garden," and indeed 

 it is the purest of all human pleasures. 



History is replete with examples from the time of Cincinnatus the 

 Roman who left his plow for the dictatorship of his country, and 

 Maximilian, the emperor, who voluntarily gave up his throne to 

 care for his cabbage patch. So, later, you have all read how, when 

 the prince of English patriote,the philanthropist and statesman, Wil- 

 liam E. Gladstone, became weary with the herculean tasks of parli- 

 ament he retired to the garden and forests of his lovely Haywarden, 

 to engage in manual labor to recruit his overtaxed powers, and, like 

 Athens of old, recover his strength by contact with mother earth. 

 The greatest master of the English language has said that "Mercy 

 is twice blessed, but horticulture brings a four-fold blessing, at 

 least for him who engages in it; it brings health to the body, rest 

 to the weary mind, and inspiration to the soul, while its reflex ac- 

 tion blesses its neighbors." 



Emerson says: "It seems as if the day was not wholly profane in 

 which we had given heed to some natural object. He who knows 

 the most, he who knows what sweets and virtues are in the ground, 

 the waters, the plants, the heavens, and "how to come to these en- 

 chantments, is the rich and royal man." 



We may well conclude with Olf Gerard's enthusiastic charge: 

 ''Forward! in the name of God. Graft, set, plant and nourish fruit 

 trees in every corner of your grounds, and God shall reward your 

 mind and diligence." 



