74 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



" In proposing this legislation and advocating its enactment we shall hope for and 

 think we have reason to expect the active support and aid of every member of this 

 society and of every other intelligent frait grower and nurseryman in the state." 



Your representative endeavored to secure a copy of the bill to be 

 presented to the legislature, but was informed that it was not as yet 

 complete, as the committee had not agreed on some of the sections 

 of vital importance, etc. Your secretary can now doubtless secure 

 a copy of said proposed act, which should be done without delay so 

 the matter can be brought to the attention of the Minnesota legisla- 

 ture at its present session, and suitable laws enacted to prevent the 

 introduction of this njost dangerous and pernicious parasite into 

 our state. Every intelligent person who has tried to secure an or- 

 chard or small fruit plant in this climate will agree that we already 

 have obstacles sufficient to contend with without having to fight this 

 insect. The most severe blight is but a summer dream as com- 

 pared to the San Jose scale. It infests all kinds of vegetation. For- 

 est trees, shrubs and vines and even our most common grasses are 

 subject to its ravages, but the chief danger is to our fruit trees, 

 small fruits, roses and ornamental stock. It is so small as to escape 

 observation except by the most careful search; it is so prolific in its 

 increase that it soon spreads over a large area, adhering to anything 

 with which it comes in contact, and, finally, it is so difficult to exter- 

 minate that no effectual method has been found to dispose of it ex- 

 cept to burn the infected wood. Neither heat nor cold, sunshine nor 

 storm, have any effect on it so far as discovered, and it will come to 

 us so surely as we live unless prompt and vigorous measures are 

 taken to prevent its introduction. We can, however, KEKP IT OUT 

 for a fraction of the expenditure that will be required to eradicate it 

 after it once gets in. Legislation to prevent its entering the state 

 can be secured and enforced a great deal easier and cheaper than 

 we can legislate and enforce laws for the destruction of our farmers' 

 orchards and gardens, even though we compensate them for their 

 loss. Do not for a motnent delude yourselves with the idea that 

 this is a bugaboo or a false note of alarm. Had you heard the re- 

 port and the discussion in the Illinois state horticultural meeting, 

 you would all agree that prevention is far cheaper and surer than 

 any remedy for the cure or extermination of the San Jose scale. 



I cannot close this report, already too long, without a tribute to 

 the courtesy and kindly treatment the members of the Illinois State 

 Horticultural Societj^ extended me while with them. There was a 

 good fellowship, a sort of horticultural Free Masonry among them 

 that I have never seen excelled, and it is only equalled in the meet- 

 ings of our own society. 



Judge Wellhouse, the great apple-grower of Kansas, sows red 

 clover in his orchards when they came into bearing and rolls this 

 down twice a season with a large roller on which are several knives, 

 like the knives of a stalk cutter. The clover stand is kept up by the 

 yearly reseeding and the fertility of the land is well cared for so far 

 as nitrogen and good physical condition go. 



