12 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



left its mark upon us for good ; it has given us a broader and more 

 valuable experience ; kindled higher and nobler aspirations and en- 

 larged our capacity for usefulness. If the lesson taught is not 

 wasted upon indocile pupils, the rest of our lives will be more serv- 

 iceable and, consequently, purer and sweeter. 



When we consider that this is only the thirty-fifth annual meet- 

 ing of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, all must admit 

 that the average yearly work accomplished has been most extraor- 

 dinary. But little more than a third of a century has elapsed, yet 

 the results already attained are greater than the mere "lookers-on 

 in Venice," and even some of our own members, thought could be 

 brought about in a full hundred years. The success already 

 achieved should spur us on to still greater efforts in the future. 

 When a boy has distinguished himself in school by his diligence, 

 faithfulness, untiring effort and accurate scholarship, it is safe to 

 predict for that boy a brilliant future. The coming man is he who 

 has laid deep and strong the foundations of the platform on which 

 he is to stand. 



Some things we need are, to a great extent, wanting. Who is 

 to take the place of the old stagers when we are ready to turn the 

 rudder and the oars over to more stalwart hands? It is true we 

 have a large number whose locks have not been whitened by the 

 snows of many winters yet. We must plan to get more young 

 blood into our organization. They will be benefited more by this 

 work than we. 



Every member of our Agricultural School and College should 

 join this society. They would be welcomed with open arms, and 

 the practical education they would pick up here would be of the 

 highest value to them while pursuing their studies and brighten 

 them up all through their lives by keeping their thoughts busy 

 upon the best plans for carrying on their work so as to yield the 

 largest and most satisfactory returns, recognizing the fact that per- 

 manent success in life does not depend on the amount of money 

 secured from the current year's harvest. They will be happy in 

 producing some luxury, the demand for which fixes its price at a 

 point far above its value as an article of food simply and, at the 

 same time, reduces the transportation charges to a minimum, while 

 preserving the fertility of the soil. The growing of fruit seems to 

 offer a partial solution to the problem which confronts us. The spe- 

 cific plans for this work are what we have been for years laboring 

 upon with marked success, and these same plans we shall be ex- 

 ceeding glad to help the younger ones carry to maturity. That 

 they may be able to surpass us is the sincere desire of every old 

 member of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. 



