secretary's t^ovi\er. 



Life Membership Roll.— One addition has been made to the life mem- 

 bership roll since the annual meeting, the name of Mr. Thomas Lowry, of 

 Minneapolis. 



Have You Sent in Your New Member for 1904?— The annual 

 membership roll for this year stands (Jan. 23) at 729, which is something 

 over 100 more than last year at this time. We are in hopes to keep ahead of 

 last year's roll continuously through the year and can easily do it with the 

 help of our members. A good many have already sent in a new member, one 

 member having sent as high as twenty-three. The moral is self evident 

 When shall we hear from you? 



More Room for the Society Office.— A little office across the hall 

 from the room now for so many years occupied as the office and library of the 

 society, has been rented at $6.00 a month, to be used largely as a store room, 

 as we'l as private office. This will relieve in large measure the pressure in the 

 secretary's office and improve its apperance. Members from the city are urged 

 to call at the office and familiarize themselves with the work of the society 

 and look over the library. There aie many valuable practical works on horti- 

 culture on our shelves. 



Horticulture at the Farmer's Institute. — The secretary had the 

 pleasure of attending the Farmer's Institute at Norwood, Jan. 5, a one day 

 session being held at that place. Mr. Frank Yahnke, of Winona, talked upon 

 small fruits and orcharding in a very entertaining and instructive way. His 

 work at the Farmers' Institute is proving to be a very satisfactory one, and 

 we learn that he stands high with the other members of the institute corps. 

 Through his efforts and Mr. Forest Henry's, in the same corps, a good many 

 annual members have been added to the societ}' roll this year already. 



Have You Received the 1903 Report? — If you have not and live in 

 or near Minneapolis will you please call at the secretary's office for it? In 

 mailing the repori the book is liable to be more or less injured, while by get- 

 ting it directly from the oftice it will find its way to your library in good coti- 

 dition. No reports are sent out by mail in the city, as the postmen do not 

 carry such heavy books but refer the persons to whom they are directed to the 

 post office to get them. Those living at a distance from Minneapolis and 

 whose reports have not been received will kindly notify the secretary. 



A Favorable Winter for Fruits. — Reports from many points in the 

 state indicate that thus far, Jan. 23, has been a very favorable winter for all 

 kinds of fruits and especially for apple trees. With every day the probabilities 

 grow that the coming season is going to be a splendid one for the orchards of 

 Minnesota, and it is especially desirable that this should be the case as lAe are 

 anxious to make a magnificient fruit display at the St. Louis exhibit. Oppor 

 tunity will be given to all of our members to contribute to this purpose, and a 

 faverable season is right in line with our wishes in this direction. 



Since writing the above and before going to press, we have had a spell of 

 "old fashioned" weather that sets us all "guessing." 



