80 ' MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
mulch on the ground over the roots. This is apparently much 
more needful at this crisis than in ordinary winters. 
WE VISITED THE FARMERS’ INSTITUTE AT JORDAN.—Mr. Wyman 
Elliot and the secretary, as representing the horticulural society 
with Hon. S. M. Owen for company, took advantage of the presence 1 
of the institute at so convenient a point as Jordan and spent Satur- 
day, the 15th inst., there. We found an audience of some 150 “hang- 
ing breathless” on the words of Supt Gregg and his able corps of : 
assistants. These gatherings seem to lose nothing of interest since , 
our last visit of several years earlfer. While the state is doing so 
much of a somewhat paternalistic character for other classes of our 
people, itis certainly no more than right thatthe farmers should ~— 
receive at least this much special attention as their share, but aside 
from the equities in the case it is good policy to provide this great- 
est of all classes in our country the knowledge needed to enable 
them to grow “two blades of. grass where one grew before,” for the 
whole people participate in their prosperity. We found Mr. A. K. 
Bush occupying the place of the lamented EK. J. Cutts, as lecturer 
on horticulture, and rapidly familiarizing himself with the work. 
At an early afternoon session he talked to an audience of ladies on 
the ornamentals in our art and had their closest attention. His 
principal work in the institute now is the elaboration of a plan for 
a fruit and vegetable garden, to illustrate which he carries a large 
chart prepared specially for this purpose. It is evidently a very 
practical and appropriate topic. 
THE MINNESOTA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION IN ANNUAL SESSION.— 
This gathering, held Jan. 12,in the same rooms lately occupied by 
our society, in point of numbers was not a success, only something 
like a score being present at the afternoon session, the one we had 
the opportunity of attending; but in the character of the audience 
present and its weight with the community and in the matter of the 
subjects presented, it was in the highest degree a success. 
It is unfortunate that this society convenes on the same day as 
the State Agricultural Society in St. Paul, where so many of those 
interested in forestry find it absolutely necessary to be. This should 
certainly be remedied before the holding of another meeting. The 
subjects considered largely grouped themselves around the central 
thought of forest reserves and their protection, and after the presen- 
tation of the last one on the program, by Capt. J. N. Cross, a sugges- 
tion of his bore fruit in the appointment of a committee—to be 
announced latter—to arrange for a meeting of representatives of 
the states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, for the purpose of 
drafting a forest reserve law, to be urged simultaneously upon the 
legislatures of the three states. 
Resolutions of sympathy with Col. J. H. Stevens in his present 
domestic affliction were adopted. 
Secretary Barrett was not able to be present and his son appeared 
in his stead. We understand Mr. Barrett’s health is improving and 
he is likely to be out again soon. 
P.S.—The committee abuve referred has been announced and 
consists of Capt. J. N. Cross, D. R. McGinnis and A. W. Latham. 
