ANNUAL MEETING, 1898. 489 



exhibit. I remember at one of our state meetings a few years ag-o, 

 I think it was 1886 or 1887, we were very much discouraged as to ap- 

 ples. One man got up and held up two fingers as representing the 

 number of varieties of apples we could raise in northern Iowa. Now 

 we have not enough fingers on both hands to represent the number 

 we can raise. That was just a few years ago comparatively, and I 

 see you are keeping pace with us as to varieties. I am anxious to 

 learn as to some new winter varieties, the same as you are also, and 

 the experiments that are now under way cannot but result in finding 

 varieties that will be of great value, long keeping apples of quality. 



lam also interested in other lines of fruit growing, raspberries, 

 currants and so on. I appreciated very much the discussion on 

 currants and currant growing that was had this forenoon. I think 

 your plan of arranging the program is very satisfactory. You take 

 up one topic and dispose of it thoroughly, and then take up another 

 and treat it in the same way. I believe your plan is to take up a 

 subject one year and discuss it along lines that have not been dis- 

 cussed the previous year, and so after a few annual meetings you 

 cover the ground quite thoroughly. 



I want to say again that I am very glad to be with you and hope 

 to profit by my visit. (Applause.) 



The President: I would say that we are equally well pleased 

 to have you with us, as also the other delegates who have al- 

 ready been presented to the society. We like the spirit you 

 show in attending our meetings. You come here feeling that 

 you are here to take part with us in our deliberations and dis- 

 cussions of the different subjects that come up. We want you 

 to feel perfectly at home, and if you do not get all you want or 

 are not treated right let me know, and I will have it corrected. 



Mr. Dartt: There is one thing about the gentleman's speech 

 that causes us to like him, or rather both of them. We like 

 them because they feed us taffy. (Laughter. ) That point that 

 people become more energetic as you go north is a good one; 

 of course, that applies to our case exactly — but we must look 

 out in such matters, because there is a limit. You know there 

 are Eskimos north of us. (Renewed laughter. ) 



Mr. Reeves: It would not do for me to repeat the taffy Mr. 

 Dartt gave us when he was in Iowa. ( Great laughter.) 



Prof. Hansen then entertained the audience with an interest- 

 ing account of his recent trip to Russia and Siberia. 



The meeting adjourned until 9 o'clock Thursday morning. 



