ANNUAL MEETING, 1894. 505 



as a messenger begging' nie to call upon him, as he was not only 

 greatly interested in rose culture, but was desirous of listening to 

 the plan and detail of anything looking to an American festival of 

 this regal flower. 



Archbishop Salpointe is the Catholic archbishop of Arizona, Col- 

 orado and New Mexico, and he possesses in Santa F(5, attached to the 

 archbishopric mansion, magnificent rose gardens, the culture of 

 which afford him the greatest pleasure and delight. My visit to him 

 was attended with much satisfaction, as the good man took me 

 through his fine gardens and voluntarily proposed planting- some 

 extra fine specimens of roses w^ith a view^ to sending thein to the 

 Minnesota rose show. 



The board of trade at Santa Fe hearing that I was especially in- 

 terested in floriculture, very politely sent me a novel and attractive 

 picture of the fruits and flowers of New Mexico, which inay eventu- 

 allj^ find its way into the attractive rooms of the Minnesota society. 



Continuing our journey, in course of time, we arrived at Hot 

 Springs, Arkansas. 1 very soon cast about to put myself into ac- 

 quaintance with the horticultural society of that rather unthrifty 

 state. Very soon I learned that years before a society had been in 

 existence, but the iinpression was, that the horticultural society 

 of the state of Arkansas had (in Southern parlance) "kind'er died 

 out." But 1 found one energetic woman who was growing fine 

 roses in Hot Springs, supplying the rotundas of the various hotels 

 there; and after a long trip to her home in the sviburbs, I at last 

 found her in the Arlington hotel, personally superintending the ar- 

 rangement and disposition of her posies. 



She is the wife of Judge Kellam, a prominent man of the state, and 

 she listened with intelligent interest and approval to the plan of a 

 national rose show, expressing willingness and a strong desire to 

 "be one" to represent Arkansas. 



Madame Modjeska, the great tragedienne, who owns a fine ranch 

 in California where she cultivates roses with pronounced success, 

 has talked with me of our proposed show, making- many inquiries, 

 giving some valuable suggestions and a hearty assurance that she 

 would be pleased to send us a glimpse of her famous roses when 

 we get to the point of holding a rose show. 



Mrs. John A. Logan, of Washington, D. C, perhaps the best known 

 representative woman of our country, has both talked with and 

 written to me with much enthusiasm upon the subject. Mrs. Logan 

 pledges herself to see that the District of Columbia contributes its 

 bravest roses to grace such an occasion, and hints that a choice col- 

 lection from the famous conservatories of the White House may be 

 forthcoming for such an auspicious event. 



1 saw in Boston, last spring, the World's Fair horticultural repre- 

 sentative from Massachusetts, who gave me every assurance of a 

 creditable showing of roses from the Bay State, and who volunteered 

 as well to come out here with the collection and be present at the 

 celebration, whenever we elect that it shall occur. 



From Portland, Oregon, as well as from distant states in the far 

 south, I have received letters of inquiry and encouragement; and in 

 conversation last May, with Mr. John Thorpe in Chicago,who was at 

 the head of the World's Fair horticultural exhibit, he not only spoke 

 strongly in approval of such an undertaking, but remarked that "he 

 had often thought of suggesting such a plan for his own state." So, 

 iny friends, it seems plain, that if we do not get up and act pretty 

 soon vipon our own idea, somebody else will; and thus, the prestige 

 and honor of orig-inality and leadership in this important field of 

 beautj^ and profit will be lost to us entirely, as a state and society. 



You have so many wiser heads than mine in your active society 

 that it seems something of presumption to me, as I contemplate the 

 situation as it appears from my standpoint, and perhaps still greater 

 temerity, for me to suggest an opinion as to the final outcome of the 

 proposition for a national rose show. But as I reflect that the honor 



