512 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



• 



several reasons, that our session this winter would be near as large 

 in point of attendance and interest as it was last year, on account of 

 the hard times, and that the members, probably, would not be able 

 to come out to our ineeting- this winter, as thej' would not feel like 

 giving- the time and monej*; but I have been disagreeablj^ disap- 

 pointed, because we have come here under the most depressing 

 circumstances and have had the largest meeting in the history of 

 the society. If this society wants anything from the legislature it 

 ought to be free to ask for it. 



Mr. Wilcox: If it is in order, I would like to say this, that for 

 3'ears Mr. Harris has been urging the asking of larger appropria- 

 tions, and for my part I wish that Mr. Harris covild be appointed as 

 chairman of the legislative committee, and authorized to go ahead 

 and do the best he can. I do not know whether it is in order at this 

 time to make a motion, and I do not know where the appointment of 

 the committee comes from, but Mr. Harris should have the opportu- 

 nity^ of trying to get an increased appropriation. 



Mr. Harris: Mr. Harris does not wish for any honors; he is an 

 horticulturist, and sometimes mj^ wife thinks I think more of that 

 old horticultural society than I do of her. She thinks if she were to 

 die just before one of these meetings the funeral would have to be 

 postponed until after the meeting. I believe we should talk with 

 the candidates that expect to go to St. Paul and give thein to under- 

 stand that our influence is strong enough to control the legislature. 

 I am in favor of keeping the matter stirred up all the time. If we 

 do not ask for a thing, we shall not get it. 



Mr. Barrett. I second the motion of Mr. Wilcox to put Mr. Harris 

 on that committee. I see he is verj' confident of success. I think if 

 he is appointed to that trust he certainlj^ ought to have half of what 

 he gets. I came through the mill and know what it is to be ground 

 over. Do not put me on that committee, for God's sake; I will not 

 accept it, if you do. (Laughter.) Representing as I did the Forestry 

 Association, I could, of course, not do as well as if I represented the 

 Horticultural Society. The Horticultural Society is ahead in popu- 

 larity and I am glad of it, and it occurs to me that with such a man 

 as brother Harris at the head and two other effieient men as the 

 chairman might select, that with persistent effort and all sorts of 

 honorable methods, I believe with a proper presentation of the 

 claims of this society they can succeed in getting an increased ap- 

 propriation. I spent an entire winter trying to get a bill through 

 for the Forestry Association; sometimes it seemed hope was 

 blighted entirelj', but by keeping on working and praying, I suc- 

 ceeded in securing the appropriation. 



The coinmittee on obituaries reported through the chairman, Mr, 

 Elliot. (See index.) 



Mr. Elliot. I would suggest that if there are anj- of our members 

 who have died during the j'ear that we do not know of; that their 

 names be forwarded to Col. Stevens; and it would also be well to 

 take cognizance of anj^ noted horticulturists that have died outside 

 of our state in the United States and Europe. 



The paper on "Bird Study," by Mrs. Louise Samson, Minneapolis, 

 was then read by President Underwood. ^See index.) 



