Cfecretary's (^ori^er. 



The Secretary's Vacation.— From the 1st to the 20th of July the sec- 

 retary's office will be closed on account of the absence of the secretary from 

 the city. All communications coming in during that period will be attended 

 to promptly upon the re-opening of the office. 



American Forestry Association in Minneapoi^is. — This national 

 society is to hold its annual gathering in Minneapolis the last week in August, 

 on the 25th and 26lh. The program includes many papers by writers of 

 national reputation. Our members should as far as possible plan to take 

 advantage of this unusual opportunity. 



Ii^tNBSS OF OUR Members.— At this time, June 25, two of the older 

 members of our society, O. M. Lord, of Minnesota City, and Ex-President "W. 

 W. Pendergast, of Hutchinson, are confined at home upon beds of sickness. 

 A card from Mr. Lord's place just received speaks of an improvement in his 

 condition, and we are hopeful that in both cases these friends will be about 

 again before long. 



Fruit for the St Louis Exposition. — Choice specimens of fruits of 

 all kinds including the more unusual fruits from Minnesota of peaches, pears, 

 cherries and domestic plums are wanted to be put up in glass jars for the St 

 Louis exhibit. Any of our readers who have these fruits will do us a great 

 favor by corresponding with Secretary Latham in regard to it. Specimens of 

 all the important varieties of apples and grapes will be also needed, and we 

 should be glad to know where they can be secured. Please address the secre- 

 tarj. 



Seedling Apples at the Next State Fair.— Heretofore premiums 

 offered on seedling apples at the state fair have been only for such varieties as 

 have not before received a premium at any Minnesota State Fair. That class 

 has been continued in this year's premium list, but in addition to it there is 

 also the same number of premiums and the same amount offered for seedlings 

 regardless of whether they have received a premium before or not. The pur- 

 pose of this is to create a class in which all the meritorious seedlings of the 

 state should have an opportunity of being shown together for the purpose of 

 comparison. Under this new head we hope to call out a very large exhibition 

 of seedlings. Many of the best seedlirgs of the state have of late years been 

 barred under the old form of offer. 



A Flower Show at Minneapolis. — Minneapolis is to have a flower 

 shew the first week in August, under the auspices of the "Minneapolis Jour- 

 nal," of a sort that would be an advantage for any community to copy after. 

 Premiums to the amount of several hundred dollars are offered by various 

 business men in the city, mainly florists and seedsmen, and any one is allowed 

 to compete, there being a special class for children. Such an exhibition will 

 have a marked tendency to increase the interest in flower culture and do its 

 part toward the larger decoration of the homes of the city. Why isn't it feas- 

 ible to have such an exhibition in the smaller towns in the state? There is 

 already a great interest in flower culture and the ornamenting of home 

 grounds, and such a show would greatly increase it. 



