494 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



World's Fair. 



Much might be said on this subject which properly finds a place 

 in a secretary's report, as a larg-e share of the work in connection 

 wnth our horticultural exhibit there and its results are intimatelj' 

 connected with the inachinery of the societ)' and its membership. 

 In fact, without the existence of the society it would have been prac- 

 ticably impossible, at least in such an unfavorable j'ear, to have 

 made a passable exhibit. It was found to be so in the case of some 

 of the state exhibits there which were not supported by such an or- 

 ganization. As my special report on this subject will come before 

 you later, I will not take time now any further than to express inost 

 heartil}^ my appreciatioti of the support given me by the fellow 

 members of the society. 



SOUTHERN MINNESOTA SOCIETY. 



It is in order to notice the formation of a horticultural societ}- in 

 southern Minnesota, as to the natne of which, however, I am not 

 sure, as I understand it is to cover only two or three counties; but 

 they sent out a very handsoine printed program under the title of 

 "Southern Minnesota Horticultural Society." An application has 

 come from their president for a quantity of reports for distribution, 

 and they are hopeful, as we are also, that much good will come of 

 this. Perhaps, there are other sections of the state that would be 

 specially benefitted as well by a local organization. 



The Library. 



Our library will show about the same increase as was made in 

 1892. No special efforts have been made in this direction, but the 

 usual exchanges and some missing years of reports from various 

 states, with contributions from Messrs. Wyman Elliot J. S. 

 Harris and others, have made the number of additions a very credi- 

 table one. I will speak of this further in the librarian's report. 



Form of Report. 



In conformity with my steady purpose to widen the field of use- 

 fulness of the society and in every practicable way extend its work, 

 I have given some thought to the matter of a change in the manner 

 of publishing our annual report, to which I wish to call your atten- 

 tion briefly. The change suggested consists in issuing it in twelve 

 parts, somewhat in the form of a monthly magazine, one part to be 

 sent to each member each month. With our present membership 

 this would take some 450 copies. The balance could be bound at the 

 end of the year, 2,0(X) in cloth and the rest in paper covers, as at pres- 

 ent. Each member upon renewing his membership at the begin- 

 ning of the following year might be entitled to a cloth-bound copy 

 of the twelve numbers bound in one book, and the monthlies that 

 had been sent out during the year could be distributed to advan- 

 tage by those who received thein. 



There are many advantages connected with this form of printing 

 the report, some of which areas follows: The present form of report 

 not being issued xmtil about the first of June fails to bring to j'ou 

 early enough in the season to be a benefit that 3'ear much informa- 

 tion which you desire. Prior to the first of June, under the proposed 

 arrangement, five monthly issues would have been sent to you, con- 

 taining in all one-half of the whole report, and so selected, as far as 

 possible, as to give yovi the matter you most need. It would also be a 

 convenient way of sending out notices and otherwise communicat- 

 ing with members on any subject. Items of local or timelj- interest 

 to the horticulture of the state could be sent to you without dela}-. 

 The members could through this channel, in an eas}^ way, commu- 

 nicate their thoughts to the society. The reports of other horticul- 

 tural meetings and extracts from the bulletins of the experiment 

 stations of the country could be sent at once as fresh material and 



