THE MINNESOTA 
HORTICULTURIST. 
VOL. 26. NOVEMBER, 1898. No. In. 
: 0. Minn. ort. \ ociety. 
A REVIEW OF THE SOUTHERN MINNESOTA HORTI- 
CULTURAL SOCIETY. 
CLARENCE WEDGE, EX-SEC’Y, ALBERT LEA. 
As one who has been with this society since the beginning and 
actively interested in promoting its welfare,I have been asked toe 
give an outline of its conception, organization and growth to the 
present time, with the hope, no doubt, that it might prove an assist- 
ance and encouragement to other localities to organize similar 
societies. 
For two years previous to the organization of the society there had 
been a desire expressed by a few people of Mower and Freeborn 
counties that we have an opportunity to get together and exchange 
experiences on the subject in which we were so deeply interested. 
In the fall of 1893, we decided that it would cost little to make the 
attempt, anda meeting for preliminary organization was called in 
the rooms of the commercial club of Albert Lea, and a number of 
letters were written to persons who were known to take an interest 
in horticulture, requesting their presence. When the hour for the 
meeting came around and an elegant suite of rooms, lighted and 
heated for the occasion, were awaiting the honor of ushering into 
the world a new organization, just two persons showed themselves. 
After waiting a proper time for the earnestly expected throng with- 
out any addition to their number, the two worthies shook the dust 
of the city from their feet and departed to the suburbs, where ina 
house situated in the midst of an orchard and nursery, they “slept 
over the matter.” In the morning with the aid of aneighbor “we 
three” organized the Southern Minnesota Horticultural Society, 
adopted a constitution, elected officers, appointed a committee on 
program and set the place of first meeting at.Austin. (The portrait 
of our first president, Mr. F. W. Kimball, of Austin, appears as a 
frontispiece of this number.) 
