206 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Some discussion and witt}- sallies followed the remarks of Dr. 

 Frisselle. It was sug'gested that while the golden rod mig^ht do for 

 a national flower, "Pillsburj^'s Best" might be appropriated for 

 Minnesota; that, perhaps, the remarks in the "Arena" about corn maj' 

 mean after it's ground; or that, perhaps, one reason whj- golden rod 

 is likel}' to be popular, is because silver will probabl}^ be demone- 

 tized. 



In order that the ladies might have more of a part in the deliber- 

 ations, the president proposed that a vote should be taken as to the 

 preference of the meeting. A motion was accordingly^ made bj' Mrs. 

 Latham that we approve of the golden rod as our national flower. 

 This called forth further discussion. Mr. Harris could not vote for 

 the golden rod in view of our beautiful wild apple. Mr. Gould 

 thought this on a par with adorning one's ground with the lom- 

 bardy poplar. It does very well, if 3'ou look at it a half a mile away. 

 A rising vote was finally taken, a verj^ large majority sustaining 

 the motion. 



Mr. C. D. Smith, director of the experiinent station, spoke of "The 

 Relation of the Dairj- to Horticulture." In substance he said: "As 

 to the relation of the cow to horticulture, I find it a ver3' pleasant 

 and instructive one. It furnishes cream for the berries; it furnishes 

 the stuff while you furnish the aesthetics. When a dairyman has 

 made his mone}^ at the really hard labor of the farm, he sells out to 

 go into horticulture. If the cow could talk and vote, she would vote 

 for corn. If she could enter into the spirit of it, it would affect her, 

 even to the tail, which becomes very 'whisky.' " 



I have been mcu^e than delighted with the advance in horticulture 

 that I have seen in visiting the fairs in the southern parts of this 

 state. I am going to tell j^ou a stor3' to illustrate how I felt about 

 the knack of Minnesota horticulturists when I saw what others 

 can do against odds. When I was in the extreme South we put up 

 an ice machine. The negroes said we couldn't make ice in hot 

 weather. But when we were successful, I asked a negro what he 

 thought of it. He said we could beat the Almighty, for he could 

 make ice only in the winter. That's the case with Minnesota horti- 

 culturists. They went down to New Orleans and took the prizes 

 there. 



I am glad to see j'ou here to enjo}' with us the fruits of Prof. 

 Green's labor. Our work is all closelj' allied. Howcloselj' allied, for 

 instance, is that of the entomologist to the raisingof small fruits! In 

 the vegetable line, also, he assists the horticulturist. Think of the 

 potato rot and the potato scab. How the entomologist has studied 

 them, and enabled you to prevent the destructive insects! 



We are glad to see you here today, and when you come alone will 

 be pleased to welcome j^ou, also, to any of our departments. 



"Bugs in Horticulture'' b}' Prof. Otto Lugger. The professor 

 spoke first of the beneficial influence of bugs, calling attention to 

 the fact that we could not grow Uowers without insects. He spoke 

 also of their injurious effects and of the manj^ substances on the 

 market advertised as insect destro3-ers, oftentimes in themselves 

 more injurious to the plants than the insects. The other da3^ he re- 



