' 
3 S os 
‘ 
ANNUAL MEETING, 1897. 485 
' fighting. Now, we that are in the second line of battle down there 
in Iowa have a great deal ofadmiration for your courage up here in 
Minnesota. We have a great deal of admiration for your persist- 
ence and courage, and Iam pleased to say that we appreciate the 
work that you are doing here. (Applause). 
The President: I will now introduce to you Mr. Geo. H. Van 
Houten, Secretary of the Towa State Horticultural Society. 
Mr. Van Houten (Iowa): Mr. President, I would prefer very much 
to take a back seat, and rather a low one at that, so as not to become 
conspicuous. They donot allow metotalk athome. I brought up 
Mr. Wragg,and hewilldothetalking. I am nota talker myself, and 
I am so accustomed to taking down what is said at home that I got 
out of the habit of talking, so you will please excuge me. 
Mr. President: I will now introduce to you Mr. M. J. Wragg, 
from the Iowa State Society. Mr. Wragg has been given a 
reputation as a talker, and we shall be pleased to hear from 
him. 
Mr. Wragg (Iowa): Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: Iam 
sorry that my friend Van Houten is so affected with diffidence; a 
man who has seen all sides of the globe to make the assertion that 
he has nothing to say seems rather strange. I am sorry that my 
reputation is such that he speaks of me as a “‘talker.” I can only 
say that lam much gratified to be with you. I was much gratified 
‘y when I was selected as a delegate by our society to represent them 
here. It has been with much pleasure for years past that I have 
read your reports. I keep a copy year after yearin my library; I 
always have the Minnesota and Wisconsin reports there. I always 
try to get the Illinois and Nebraska reports, but Iread your reports 
with the greatest interest. I am interested in your work; itis along 
the line of progressive horticulture. We were glad to see when we 
commenced the work of cross-hybridization, that your experience in 
- that line was valuable to as. We have met with many disappoint- 
ments, but we have courage. Welive,as Dr. Powell wrote us to Say, 
in the land of the big red apple, where we load train loads of them 
and are not afraid to go into the markets of the world; we are even 
shipping train loads of apples to New York. Ladies and Gentle- 
men,I thank you, (Applause.) 
The President: Now we have some valuable work to take 
up on the general subject of apples. The first paper we have 
. is by Mr. Akin of Farmington, and as Mr. Akin is not present, 
I will ask the secretary to read it. 
‘The Most Profitable Five Apples for Minnesota.” D. F. 
Akin, Farmington. (See index). 
Discussion. . 
The President: Mr. Cummins will now read a paper. 
: ‘The Most Profitable Five Crabs and Hybrids for Minne- 
gota.” J. R. Cummins, Washburn. (See index). 
