(jfficial ]^eports. 



PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS. DEC. 3, 1895. 



J. M. UNDERWOOD, LAKE CITY. 



Members of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society-: 



Days, weeks and months have followed each other in such rapid 

 succession that but for the change in surroundings from the hum- 

 ble, quiet block in which we met a year ago to this magnificent 

 monument of grandeur, one might easily imagine this an adjourned 

 session of last winter's meeting. But thus it is, time has quickly 

 flown, and Action is the ruling spirit of the hour — it pervades every 

 animate object, and its subtle power leaves its trace even upon all 

 inanimate nature. Nothing can stand still; all people, all things 

 must go forward to perfection, or, ceasing to act, they must decay 

 and pass away, giving place to the growth and development that 

 coines from action. 



In physical development, the healthy child speedily rounds out 

 in form and becomes a perfect medium through which the mind 

 springs into action, and the two working harmouiouslj^ together go 

 on unceasingly forward to their highest attainment, although they 

 are subject to the influences that surround them both for good or 

 evil. A careless diet for the child brings on indigestion, colic and 

 numerous other maladies that work consternation for the parent. 

 The dangerous period of physical development once passed, the 

 cares and anxiety of spiritual and mental development begin, and 

 now the inost iinportant and delicate duties to j^erform are thrust 

 upon them. Microbes of vice and pernicious habit surround on 

 every side, their best friends burden them with influences that tend 

 to drag them down and dwarf and hinder them, until, finally,the care 

 and anxiety of the parent is taken up by the person himself, and un- 

 ceasing action must prevail on his part if they would triumph over 

 the enemies to his highest development. 



If we turn to nature, what wonderful illustrations of unceasing ac- 

 tion do we there find. As we look at the ceaseless flow of water in 

 tlie mighty Mississippi, is it not marvelous what springs of action 

 can keep its bed supplied, or if we pay a visit to some brooklet with 

 which we were familiar in our childhood, is it not a surprise to find 

 it still running? One would suppose they had both had time to carry 

 off the water that supplied them and leave their channels dry. And 

 so with all the streams of the world — have they not had time to per- 

 form their functions and stop? They would have but for the unseen 

 action of evaporation that goes constantly on until the moisture laden 

 atmosphere driven by var^ang currents of heat and cold rushes 

 across the land and furnishes a fresh supply. 



Turn again to nature and note the action performed by the slug- 

 gish earthworm. It seems incredible, but it is stated by naturalists- 



