C!ecretary's (^ori^er. 



New Life Members. — The following names have been added to our life 

 membership roll since the late annual meeting, the first week in this Dec: 

 R. L. Daniels, Red Wing; T. E. Cashman, M. R. Cashman and W. H. Hart, 

 all of Owatonna; Preston McCuUy, Maple Plain; M. M. Williams, Little Falls. 



"Western Empire." — Western Empire is the title of a new publication 

 issued by the Fruit World Publication Co., Los Angelos, Cal. The initial 

 number at hand is a very interesting one. The fruit growing development of 

 that country occupies considerable of its space. This new periodical is on our 

 exchange list and may be found in the library. 



The Bi,ack Currant in Minnesota. — A correspondent inquires why 

 the Horticulturist never says anything about the black currant. He thinks it 

 is a very valuable fruit for this country, yielding abundantly and making nice 

 jelly and wine. After allowing a row to grow five years he renews it, and, hav- 

 ing several rows, he keeps his plants up that way. He thinks the fruit increases 

 in size with these renewals. With him they are almost" as big as a common 

 gooseberry and bear abundantly. 



Minnesota Commissioners for the St. Louis Exposition.— Gover- 

 nor Van Sant has appointed on this commission, Theo. L. Hays, of Minneapo- 

 lis, the well known theatrical manager; Mr. Conde Hamlin, manager of the 

 Pioneer Press, St. Paul; and J. M. Underwood, of Lake City, who needs no 

 introduction to our readers. The board has already held some preliminary 

 meetings, and the necessary steps are being taken to put the work in the line 

 of progress. The $50,000 appropriated for this purpose by the legislature 

 two years ago is evidently inadequate for the purpose, and more must be forth- 

 coming to secure creditable results. 



Superintendent of Pomoi,ogy at the St. Louis Exposition.— Prof. 

 John H. Stinson has recently been appointed superintendent of pomology in 

 connection with the St. Louis exposition. He is considered specially well 

 qualified for this place on account of his training and experience. Mr. Stin- 

 son is a graduate of the Iowa Agricultural College in the class of 1890. The 

 following year he became connected with the Arkansas Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station as horticulturist, and in '97 was appointed professor of horti- 

 culture in the University of Arkansas. In 1900 he moved to Missouri to take 

 charge of the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station, located at Mountain 

 Grove, in which work, we understand, he is still engaged. 



A Proposed Preventative Law. — Prof. F. L. Washburn, entomologist 

 at the Minnesota State Experiment Station, pursuant to a resolution adopted 

 at our late annual meeting, has prepared a bill providing for the inspection of 

 nursery stock and orchards within the state and requiring that nursery stock 

 shipped into the state should be accompanied by a certificate of inspection 

 from the entomologist of the state from which it comes. This bill has been sub- 

 mitted to the nurserymen of the state and others interested and later re- 

 vised by a committee from the executive board. It is not a drastic law, and 

 as its purpose is to insure immunity from injurious pests the fruit growers 

 of the state should feel a special interest in it. The licerse feature, which 

 was so objectionable in connection with a similar bill presented lo the legis- 

 lature some years since, is not included in this one. A copy of the proposed 

 law appears in this number. 



