466 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



THE STATE PRESS AND ITS RELATION 

 TO HORTICULTURE. 



E. A. WEBB, NORTHWESTERN FARMER, ST, PAUL. 



This subject, assigned to me by your secretary, I find is some- 

 thing of a negation. If there is a relation between the state press 

 and horticulture, it is of such a general character that it loses its 

 distinctive feature by association in the general fund of information, 

 which is stock in trade with every well informed editor. 



I do not find, then, that there exists any well defined relation be- 

 tween Minnesota newspapers and horticulture; but that is no reason 

 why there should not be one. So far as the state press is concerned, 

 apart from the daily papers of the Twin Cities, that are interested in 

 making this gathering a success, I have yet to learn that it has taken 

 more than a passing notice of the achievements of the members of 

 this society. 



During the past week, I have scanned the weekly press of the state 

 in vain for any original announcement of this gathering, or any 

 presentation of its aim, scope or influence for good to the state, 

 while frequently items appear referring to the great fruit crops of 

 our sister states. There has been no intentional slight in this, but 

 the fact remains that, notwithstanding your very encouraging suc- 

 cess this year.very few and scattering have been the paragraphs that 

 gave the slightest hint of the possibilities open to the fruit culturist 

 in Minnesota. 



Do you wonder then when I tell you that the relation of the state 

 press to horticulture in this state- up to date— does not approxi- 

 mate the kinship of a forty-second cousin? But we do feel that it 

 can be established if the work of the members of this society could 

 be brought home to the attention of the gentlemen of the press. 



There are many ways by which this can be accomplished, and 

 favorable mention of our fruit products secured in the daily and 

 weekly press, but I will call attention to but three that have occurred 

 to me. 



First of all, I would place the admirably edited monthly periodical 

 of the society, the Minnesota Horticulturist, a journal published at 

 $1.00 a year, which includes the society's annual membership fee of 

 $1.00, so that, to members, it practically costs nothing. Such a 

 journal as this is makes a most effective agent, familiarizing its 

 readers with the progress made in horticulture in the state and 

 bearing enthusiastic testimony as to its success. Personally, I 

 should like to see the publishing fund large enough to pay the cost 

 of placing it in the hands of eastern and southern editors as well as 

 those of our own state. Nothing would serve a better purpose in 

 dispelling the false notions people seem to have of our climate, or 

 more successfully refute the charge against fruit growing — or corn, 

 growing — in Minnesota. 



"The Minnesota Horticulturist" is not only well edited, but it is 

 handsomely printed and illustrated; it gives facts, borne out by 

 photographic reproductions, true to life, and would prove a revela- 

 tion to credulous Eastern editors— a capital field for good mission- 

 ary work in behalf of our state. 



