506 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



which the society conferred upon nie one year ag-o, by placing me at 

 the head of the rose show committee was not intended as an empty 

 one, and as I accepted it in good faith and not as a mere figure-head, 

 you will pardon me, if in lang-uage appropriate to our subject, I no 

 longer "beat about the bush," but proceed brieflj^ to present to you 

 what seems desirable and possible, in connection with this interest- 

 ing' plan. 



It is quite apparent to all that the hard times Avhich have come 

 upon us within the last t\velve months, constitute for the time being 

 a formidable obstacle to the formulating of any important under- 

 taking- involving- money obligations of any considerable sum. 



A national rose show would obviously need, to begin with, a reas- 

 onable financial guaranty from our citizens to cover expenses in- 

 volved over and above possible receipts. There would need to be 

 monej^ in sight to invest in attractive prizes; for the outla^^ of trans- 

 portation; to prepare circulars, and send them ovit; and above all, 

 money to compensate some active man who could, and would, g^ivehis 

 entire time and energ-ies to bringing the affair to the attention of the 

 societies of other states, as well as to prominent citizens everywhere 

 who were in any way interested in the culture of the rose in private 

 g-rounds. 



While it is quite true that in the world of business everything- 

 seems temporarilj^ at a standstill, I must confess to g-enuine ad- 

 miration for the state of California which has marshalled her niag- 

 nificient resoxirces for the splendid Mid-Winter Fair at San Francisco, 

 and for the beautifvil Rose Festival of the state, which enthusiastic 

 friends there write me is attracting wide-spread attention. In con- 

 templation of the pluck and spirit of our California bretheru,and with 

 a realization of the truth of that homely old sa3'ing, that "we must 

 creep before we walk," mig-ht it not be well, in view of the unavoidable 

 present conditions pertaining- to a national rose show, to do — next 

 summer or whenever your society considers best — what the state of 

 Minnesota has never yet done, viz: To hold here in Minneapolis, 

 tipon whichever date, and at whatever place seems most desirable, 

 a Minnesota Rose Festival, given vmder the auspices of the societ}-, 

 the proceeds of which, over and above the necessary expenses for 

 prizes, should be devoted to the beg-inning of a modest fund looking 

 towards the erection of a horticultural building- and hall in the cit)^ 

 of Minneapolis? 



Having^ demonstrated our ability to manage and push forward to 

 success an attractive state rose show, we might be encouraged to 

 undertake on a larger and grander scale, floral triumphs which 

 would naturall}'^ supplement and grow out of a more modest under- 

 taking. 



I cannot bring this imperfect letter to a close, Mr. Secretar}^, with- 

 out recalling- the pleasure it afforded both Mr. Morrison and myself 

 to welcome last winter this society to the hospitalities of Villa Rosa, 

 and to couple with that remembrance the hope that we may be per- 

 mitted the added pleasure of welcoming- you all to our home in the 

 summer of 1894, at which time I believe tlie societ}^ will again hold 

 its session in this city. Please extend to the horticultural societj' 

 the best wishes of Mr. Morrison and myself, with a heart}' invitation 

 to one and all, to pass the day of jour session next summer under 

 the "shade of our vine and fig- tree." 



Yours very trul3% 



Mrs. D. Mokrison. 



Mr. Elliot: It seems to me it is fitting- that our society should take 

 some action at this time in regard to this matter, and that it would 

 be well for us to consider this proposition; and to that end I would 

 make a motion that we accept the invitation of Mrs. Morrison to 

 hold our summer meeting this year at Villa Rosa, and leave it with 

 the executive committee of the State Horticultural Society to decide 



