ham bole, All Aw ot lee ee ie +4 de ee es ee a er ae ee 
; ty , ‘ ‘ 
MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 35 
Cleve, Minneapolis, was then read by the secretary, and on motion 
_ of Mr. Jordan ordered incorporated in‘ the Transactions. The fol- 
lowing is the paper in full: 
' 
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FLORICULTURE. 4 
One who does not know Minnesota by experience, cannot realize the ex- 
hilerating effect of a winter ride in its clear, keen atmosphere, so full of 
the life-giving principle that every inhalation is like a draught of the ‘‘ wine 
that maketh glad the heart of man.” 
What if the mercury is nearing the bulb? there is no dampness to make 
one shiver; one’s blood is so thoroughly purified and circulates so health- 
ily, that he can laugh at the cold; he is alive all over, and, instead of being 
chilled and uncomfortable, he feels like shouting for joy and thankfulness 
that his lot is cast in this glorious clime. 
On the afternoon of January 13th of this our new-born year, after such 
a ride, which filled my soul to overflowing with a sense of God’s goodness, 
I found myself, as if by magic, in the midst of lovely flowers and tropical 
foliage, where the air was soft and warm, the sun shone brightly, and 
summer reigned in wondeiful beauty. 
Bright crimson and creamy white camelias opened their lovely cups 
among dark, glossy foliage; exquisite carnations bent low their fringed 
petals, heavy with aromatic fragrance; the slender passion vine looked 
in and out on pretty primroses of various hues, very charming in their 
graceful simplicity. 
Geraniums, heliotropes, myrtles, and many other beautiful things, flour- 
ished in luxuriance all about us;. great begonias, with rich variega- 
ted leaves and bright blossoms, interspersed with endless varieties of 
mosses, graceful ferns and delicate water ivies, formed an elegant setting 
to this bower of beauty, while the slender, shining smilax made wreaths 
and festoons over all, and vigorous English ivies, with their dark-green 
leaves, so suggestive in their firmness and durability of the practical com- 
mon sense of the land of their birth, wound their strong arms around the 
pillars of this floral temple, giving the air of solidity and security to what 
seemed so like fairy land, that [almost feared to breathe or speak aloud, lest, 
like a lovely dream, it might vanish out of my sight. Only ashort time, 
however, could be spared from imperative duties to enjoy this beautiful 
vision, and as we took a lingering look, and passed out into the keen air 
and the snow, I thought what a blessing, and how much real enjoyment 
the study of floriculture has bestowed upon humanity. During our short 
summers we enjoy the prairie and forest beauties, and never tire of study- 
ing and cultivating the wonderful and lovely things which God scatters so 
bountifully about us; and the christian delights to look up from all these 
beautiful creations to Him who made them, and say, with a sense of own- 
ership, ‘‘ My Father made them all.” Shall we not then praise and magnify 
His holy name, that he has put it into the hearts and minds of men to study 
the habits of the floral world, so that our enjoyment of them may not 
cease, when this same dear Father, for wise and kindly purposes, ‘‘ com- 
mandeth and raiseth the stormy wind, when He giveth snow like wool, 
