Secretary's r^orr^er. 



Commendatory. — "Should be very sorry to cease being a member of so 

 glorious an organization." — F. S. 



Novelties. — "Last fall I left one of my Bokara No. 3 peaches unprotected. 

 It has come through the winter without serious injury, only the tips being 

 slightly discolored. I have one Gideon seedling apple that produces double 

 or serhi-double flowers. I have been wondering lately if this is an uncommon 

 form." — Henry Dunsmore, Olivia, Minn. 



Protection ok Rose Bushes from Insects. — E. E. Rexford in "Gard- 

 ening" recommends for an insecticide which has proved more satisfactory than 

 Paris green, hellebore or whale oil soap when used on rose bushes common 

 ivory soap in the proportion of half a pound of soap to two pails of water, first 

 shaving the soap and dissolving in a small quantity of hot water. Spray thor- 

 oughly twice a week during the insect season. 



Nursery Shipments for Manitob.\. — The" governor general of Canada 

 has issued an order permitting the shipment of nursery stock into the Domin- 

 ion at Winnipeg (and at other points not accessible for Minnesotans), between 

 March 15th and May 15th, and between October 7th and December 7th. 

 When received the stock will be fumigated with hydrocyanic gas. Nothing is 

 said as to the duty, but undoubtedly it remains as heretofore. 



South Dakota to Build a Plant Breeding House. -Prof. N. E. Han- 

 sen is to be congratulated on having secured an appropriation of $10,000 for 

 the construction of the plant breeding house of which he has spoken a number 

 of times in his articles in this magazine and in talks before the society. This 

 will give him material assistance in his efforts to develop and improve upon 

 the native fruits by cross-breeding, etc. We have an equal interest with the 

 people of South Dakota in the result. 



J. S. Harris' Bequest to our Library.— "The son of the late Mr. Har- 

 ris writes that his father made a bequest of books to the library of this society. 

 This is in accord with his oft repeated statement that the horticultural society 

 were to have his library when he passed away. This bequest will be placed in 

 a library case by itself suitably inscribed and will be prized not alone for the 



