500 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



higher schools no manual labor is required, but in most of the 

 schools practical work alternates with the lectures and class-room 

 exercises. A larg-e botanic garden and arboretum is a prominent 

 feature of every one of these schools, and is regarded as an indis- 

 pensible part of the equipment. The magnificent museums of hor- 

 ticulture, agriculture or forestrj'- I saw in Berlin, Eberswalde, Mu- 

 nich, Proskau, Hohenheim, Geissenheim on the Rhine, Klosterneu- 

 burg near Vienna, Copenhagen, Moscow and other places, made me 

 reflect that we have much to do and to learn in the way of college 

 equipment. But probably the strictly technical courses of study in 

 the European schools would not be best for our purpose. For our 

 American schools, I think the present system is preferable, that is, 

 to include some studies directly pertaining to the duties of citizen- 

 ship and even man}' of the studies which in European schools are 

 a requisite for entrance. 



Russia. — I found tlie Russians to be a very kind and hospitable 

 people. They have a high regard for America and Americans. 

 From Berlin, I went to Warsaw, in Poland, and thence east to Mos- 

 cow, which is twelve hundred miles east of Berlin by rail. Thence 

 south to Kiev, six hundred and twenty-five miles southeast of Mos- 

 cow, stopping off at several places on the waj'; then west to Ger- 

 many again. Russia is truly a country of magnificent distances. 

 Passports are absolutely necessary, both for entering and leaving 

 the country', and the police authorities must stamp the passport at 

 every citj'^ one stops at overnight. This strictness seems strange to 

 one accustomed to American customs. I was greatly pleased with 

 Russian horticulture, and picked up a number of points which I am 

 endeavoring to test here and will report in due time. The venerable 

 Dr. Schroeder is still professor of horticulture at the Roj'al Agri- 

 cultural College in Moscow. Prof. Schroeder is a native of Denmark 

 and has been in the employ of the Russian government as horticul- 

 turist for fiftj' 3'^ears. He has contributed much to the horticultural 

 literature of Russia. I ordered some promising novelties in trees 

 and shrubs which arrived during the winter' and are now growing 

 on the grounds of the Iowa Agricultural College at Ames. At Mos- 

 cow and manj' other places in Europe, I found Prof. Budd's visit in 

 1882 remembered with pleasure, and all united in sending greeting. 



The Russian government displays a progressive spirit in many 

 lines. It is wide awake on the forestry question, and its govern- 

 ment forestry service is extensive and well organized. Hundreds 

 of thousands of acres of forest have been planted on the vast step- 

 pes, and a strict supervision is exercised on all timber cutting. The 

 beneficial influences of forests on climate is well known, and the 

 great forests of Russia today stand as magnificent illustrations of 

 the wise forethought of the Russian government. 



The Russian government has a good method of getting hold of 

 advanced methods in all lines. There is a system of traveling fel- 

 lowships which enables promising students to travel and study for 

 two years or so in the various countries of Europe. Upon return- 

 ing, these men are given government positions. The latest ideas 

 are thus quickly grasped and brought into use at home. 



