194 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



According- to the written experience of Mr. Budd, the Duchess 

 is a very prepotent sort, but by actual test on my grounds the re- 

 verse is true except in hardiness. I know of no variety that is more 

 easily overcome by the pollen of another sort. It does perpetuate its 

 hardiness to a reasonable degree. In one instance a cross of Grimes' 

 Golden obliterated every trace of it both in tree and fruit, except 

 as stated. 



In conclusion, permit me to say that I believe that the practice 

 of emasculating the stamens and cutting off the petals in pollinizing 

 is faulty, and that we would reach higher results if we would let the 

 flower remain intact. I believe that the Infinite Mind knows better 

 than we whether the perfect maturity of both petals and stamens 

 were necessary to the highest development of the embryo germ of 

 the future fruit that is forming in the flowers. 



There are so many instances on record of one plant when 

 crossed on another where the pollinizing parent obliterated the char- 

 acteristics of the other parent, that we cannot doubt that whether 

 we practice heroric surgery or not on the flower, the fact still re- 

 mains that one plant when crossed on another in its most natural 

 and perfect condition will obliterate the distinctive characteristics 

 of the other parent in their offspring. This is a broad field full of 

 mysteries and surprises, and he who labors faithfully and lovingly in 

 it will be sure to find happiness if not gold. 



TWO MINUTE SPEECHES AT CLOSE OF THE ANNUAL 

 MEETING, DECEMBER 7, 1900. 



Mr. Jno. Freeman, Austin : The attendance at this meeting 

 has certainly been a very joyous privilege to me. This is the first 

 opportunity I have ever had of attending an entire session of this 

 annual meeting. Personally, I have been greatly benefited, and I 

 hope I may return to my home filled, and return to some extent to 

 those who sent me up here to represent them and to enjoy this ses- 

 sion much that I have received that may be of abundant benefit to 

 many who are taking their first lesson in horticulture in the Southern 

 Minnesota Horticultural Association. I want to thank you all for 

 making it so pleasant and again wish to say that I enjoyed it very 

 much. 



Mr. A. P. Stevenson (Manitoba) : I am sure it has afforded 

 me a great deal of pleasure to meet the horticulturists of Minnesota 

 here during their annual meeting. I have learned a great deal from 

 the veteran horticulturists down here which I know will be of great 

 value to us adjoining your state on the north. These things which 

 I have learned here will encourage us up there, and it gives me 

 courage to hope that we yet have a prospect of growing fruit to some 

 extent. We know that in past years you were somewhat in the posi- 

 tion in which we now are in Manitoba, that is, you were experiment- 



