REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD 15 



At the last annual meeting of our society, and since then by 

 your executive board, there was some discussion as to the propriety 

 and advisability of erecting- an appropriate memorial in remembrance 

 of the life work so generously and devotedly done in the interest of 

 pomology by our departed brother horticulturist, Peter M. Gideon. 

 Your board after having this matter under advisement for some 

 time appointed a committee to devise or formulate some plan where- 

 by this very worthy object might be accomplished. This committee 

 reported several plans to the executive board, and from them one 

 was selected to be submitted to this society, which will be taken up 

 later at this session. 



A new experiment station has been created the past year and 

 Mr. J. W. Parks, of Pleasant Mounds, has been designated as super- 

 intendent. 



There was a committee appointed to examine and report to the 

 society upon the seedlings and valuable grafted varieties of apples 

 now growing in the late Peter M. Gideon's orchards at Lake Minne- 

 tonka. Wyman Elliot, Prof. S. B. Green and John S. Harris were 

 appointed, who will report what they found later in the session. 



Our horticultural library is very fast outgrowing the rooni now 

 occupied and to relieve the cramped and crowded condition in the 

 secretary's ofhce new and more commodious rooms should be ob- 

 tained where the visiting members and patrons of the society can 

 have more extended accommodations. 



It is desired on the part of the executive board that every mem- 

 ber and delegate attending this meeting may feel free to ask such 

 questions concerning the workings and management of the affairs of 

 the society as they wish. We feel the importance of every member 

 becoming fully identified with all the varied interests and require- 

 ments for conducting a successful, progressive horticultural work, 

 and deem it very necessary to keep closely in touch with all its 

 members far and near, and to do so successfully you must on your 

 part not neglect to make known to our secretary your wants, your 

 successes, your failures and what in your estimation the unforeseen 

 exigencies of the times demands of us as faithful servants of a live 

 and up to date modern horticultural organization. 



A suggestion. — There should be a purchasing fund created 

 from some source, either by an appropriation from the legislature 

 or from private donations, or possibly a small amount might be set 

 aside from money received from memberships of the society, for the 

 purpose of obtaining cions, trees or plants from originators of new 

 and valuable varieties to be recommended by your executive board 



