REPORT OF DELEGATE. 387 



REPORT OF DELEGATE FROM SO. MINN. HORT. 

 SOCIETY. 



JONATHAN FREEMAN, AUSTIN. 



You will recall from the published report of our last annual 

 meeting, held in Spring Valley last January, that it was considered 

 the best session, as a whole, yet held by the society. The papers 

 certainly were able and practical, and the discussions were thorough 

 and very beneficial. To my view, it is just here that the greatest 

 and most lasting benefits are to be received from local or district 

 societies. Very naturally, in a gathering where there are com- 

 paratively only a few learned and experienced heads and the topics 

 not so numerous, more extended and exhaustive discussions and 

 real, live and actual experiences can be brought forward than 

 where these same wise heads are numbered by the hundreds, a 

 goodly per cent, of whom are anxiously waiting an opportunity to 

 put in a disclaimer. Such discussions may or may not be profitable 

 and interesting to an audience composed almost entirely of the know- 

 ing and professional ones, but to the many of the small and in- 

 experienced fruit-growers who attend these local gatherings, much 

 light is thrown upon their difficulties and disappointments as ex- 

 perienced by them in their varied undertakings and experiments 

 upon their home grounds. 



Then again, the more popular evening exercises are exerting 

 upon the pupils of our schools very favorable influences, interesting 

 then in their youthful days in fruits and all that is beautiful in na- 

 ture. When such numbers interestedly attend these gatherings, and 

 when so many are attempting fruit culture, why do not many more 

 come forward, without continued asking and pleading, with the 

 dollar for membership, with all the resultant benefits and returns. 

 With all my experiences and observations for many years per- 

 taining to farmers' clubs, granges, reading circles and other similar 

 organizations, I am still compelled to ask the question, why do not 

 the farmer, gardener and fruitman rush to the support of said or- 

 ganizations, instead of listening to the smooth and rascally yarns 

 of rovers through the land, signing notes that increase decimally 

 in an instant, and being swindled generally ? But if a well-known and 

 trusted neighbor ask them for a dollar for membership in one of the 

 before mentioned organizations, they will answer "No," perhaps 

 giving some fallacious reason. Individually and collectively I leave 

 this extended question with you for an answer. 



In short, we are reasonably satisfied with the character of our 

 annual sessions, but we are not satisfied with the number of our 

 paid membership. 



