i is | ’ mt > ; . ‘ bo. J 4 ‘ : 
18 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. — 
Annual memberships reported in 1890, 123. 
Annual memberships reported in 1891, 229, 
Annual memberships reported in 1892, 300. 
Annual memberships reported in 1893, 378. 
Annual memberships reported in 1894, 522, 
Annual memberships reported in 1895, 459. 
Annual memberships reported in 1896, 462. 
Annual memberships reported in 1897, 643. 
The total membership for the year closing includes the following: ; 
3 Annial meni bers’ ;)'5s\: cs eens vines Serions Olen dinate See ED 643 
Wifermem bers ff utics ss ops ceca ee eee ee a ee a setae . 
Honorary short-time members. - 60.4... sie ntive olde aude 9 3 
ee er ef 
That this is not to be considered final as to the total membership _ 
of the year must be apparent when you are informed that the pres- _ 
ent membership for 1896 is 505, being 48 members more than was re- 
ported atthe last meeting. A few of our members area little for- 
getful and recall their obligations to the society too late to get into 
the count or to have their names go down to posterity in the roll as 
published in our bound annual report. ? 
This roll has much significance as indicating very fairly the mo- .. 
mentum of our work, and, as it expands and pushes on, more and 
more come within the range of its beneficent influence. To talk and 
to listen at our gatherings is not all of the duty of our members; 
but also by precept and persuasion to add to the number of those 
who may be directly aided by our labors. That our membership — 
has reached the present gratifying stageis notfrom any fortunate — 
concurrence of circumstances—for, indeed, these have rather been | 
against us in the past few years of financial stringency—but aa 
reason of the fact that there is such a strong affection for ourasso- 
ciation and its work on the part of so many of our members and — es 
eS their willingness to do something and sacrifice something for thel® 
. cause they love. It has been our praiseworthy ambition to see our 
4 membership pass the 1,000 mark, and that it could easily be done “ee 
with your assistance is apparent when you consider that for each _ a 
one of the present 707 members to secure at least one new one would 23 
place the list far beyond that goal. With the inducements offered, ” 
especially to such new members, each person can likely name i: 
several that in his judgment should and could be brought into the — 
fold witha little personal effort. How many of you will give us a he 
»“" 
Bs. 
y. 
American horticultural societies? a a 
As to our possessions, there is far too much that could be said to Rp: a 
keep this document within the limits of a single gulp, which I have ‘a } 
set myself to do; indeed, I fear it is already too vast a swallow for _ 
any good, well bred horticulturist, though not yet beyond the lim 
J its of many Minnesota citizens—not members of our society—who a 
take in eee the hook baited with a “model orchard” ora “bud-— eS". 
ded apple tree.” “< 
SR ase os lr OR al a oe ae 
i anaes 
