S. MINN. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 425 



brick, Rose Creek; Even S. Eyensou, Rose Creek; F. Boelk, Lansing-; 

 E. H. S. Dartt, Owatonna; James Taylor, Woodlawu; Arne Huseby, 

 Adams; E. B. Crane, A.ustin; Lewis P. Peterson, Freeborn; Robert 

 Freeman, Glenville; C. L. Hill, Albert Lea. 



FROM THE secretary's NOTE BOOK. 



A motion to put the Wealth}^ on the list for g-eneral planting- 

 brought on a livelj' discussion. It seetned to be the sentiment of a 

 majority of the members that while it was too valuable to discard, it 

 -was too unreliable to be placed on a par with the Duchess and 

 Hibernal. 



The catalpa was reported hardy and satisfactory^ at points in Free- 

 born, Steele and Mower counties, in the latter count}- one tree on 

 the premises of Mr. G. Seebach being now about fifteen feet high. 

 The horse chestnut was also bearing fruit in Freeborn and Steele 

 counties. 



The red cedar was strongly endorsed as the verj^ hardiest tree to 

 plant for windbreak; but the point was made by Mr. Dratt, of Owa- 

 tonna, that some trees, doubtless from southern seed, had proved 

 tender. The white spruce received words of praise on all hands, 

 and seemed to be generally regarded as far superior to the Norway 

 spruce in most situations in our state. 



The propagation of plums on their own roots was urged and sev- 

 eral points made in favor of such propagation. 



Letters of regret were read from C. G. Patten, of Charles Cit}^, la., 

 and Edson Gaj^lord, of Nora Spring-s, la. 



Final resolutions were passed thanking the citizens of Austin for 

 their handsome entertainment; the county- auditor for the use of his 

 room; the visiting members, Messrs. J. S. Harris, E. H. S. Dratt and 

 J. B. Mitchell, for their wise counsel; and the press of the city of 

 Austin for their help in advertising the meeting. 



It may not be improper to add to this report an expression of the 

 pleasure and satisfaction the officers of the society have felt in their 

 work, and an encouragement to form similar societies wherever 

 possible in the state. Of the twenty-nine members, probablj^ not 

 more than eight would otherwise have received our state reports, 

 and only perhaps half of the eight have had the benefit of an attend- 

 ance at a horticultural meeting; not to mention the numbers who 

 were interested listeners at the meetings, but who in these close 

 times did not feel like sparing the dollar required for inembership. 



Since the meeting, the newspapers of Austin have published near- 

 ly all the papers read at the meeting, tog-ether with the fruit list 

 recommended by the society. The papers of Albert Lea have also 

 printed a goodly share. Thus the suggestions of our best fruit 

 growers and tree planters were enjoyed by, probably, not less than 

 two thousand additional readers. 



The treasurer's books show that all this was brought about at an 

 expenditure of only $13.30, and that there is remaining a surplus 

 of $14.70 in the treasury. In the facts above inentioned, we think 

 there is very- substantial encouragement for the organization of 

 similar societies, and we are confident that under the care and with 



