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features of horticulture, will appeal to the generosity and sense o fit ; 
justice of the next legislature, and that it will confer upon us an im 
appropriation commensurate with the importance of the work. 
In membership there has been a very satisfactory increase, and 
the society may justly congratulate itself upon having accom-— 
plished, through its magazine, an uplifting and elevating mission — a 
in carrying to those who were unable to be present at its meetings 
the gospel of advanced horticulture. It has found its way into — ey 
nearly 700 homes—but how small that number seems compared with 
the many in which it ought to be received! It should be placed in 
the hands of every tiller of the soil, and the state legislature could 
do no better work than to provide for doing it. 
In this age of rapid progress and development, women are taking R, re 
prominent positions and filling them with great credit. Naturally 
interested in everything that pertains to the beautifying of home 
and its surroundings, they have widened the range of their influ- 
ence. The Minnesota Federation of Women’s Clubs are taking up — 
practical work along lines that are of the deepest interest to us. In 
their papers on “Town and Village Improvement,” their commit- 
tees, appointed to plan and work for the same, evince appreciation 
of the need for improvement, and their determination to bring about 
reform. It is suggested that the horticultural society authorize 
its women members to form a club (soas to be eligible to admission 
—no men being allowed) so as to join the federation, thereby being 
entitled to send one or more delegates, who would help the horti- 
cultural society to keep in touch with this strong organization. It 
would also be a means of showing due appreciation of the great 
efforts they are making for the improvement of the state. Rest 
assured that in this way the society can enlarge its influence for 
good. 
The State School of Agriculture demands our enthusiastic en- 
couragement and strong support, for assuredly from it may be 
expected the hard working and well informed members of the 
future. 
The Farmers’ Institutes have done yeoman’s service for horticul- 
ture. They have not exactly made a horticulturist of a Jersey cow, 
but they have come the next thing to it in making a horticultural 
lecturer of our friend, Prof. O.C. Gregg. Let the good work go on, 
until Theo. Lewis gives up the swine and preaches apples. 
As was expected, the display of flowers and fruits at the last state 
fair was a grand success, and from this on it should be the aim of 
the secretary to see that permavent features of horticultural art be © a 
introduced and made prominent, so that lasting lessons of refine- 
ment and culture will be learned by farmers from all over the state; 
until the farm—every farm—is made as attractive as the city for the 
boys and girls who grow up there—yes, so attractive that the many 
in our cities who find it hard to make a living will see how much 
better off they would be in the country, 
