, : 
MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 61 
twos and marched away under the leadership of their captains. 
The Normal classes were then dismissed in order to their class 
rooms. When the hall was cleared the Principal, Prof. Phelps, re- 
marked that to show what could be done in case of fire or other 
accident, he would bring the pupils all back to their places in the 
hall inside of two minutes. The signal was given and the pupils 
appeared, taking their places easily and naturally, and within 
the time specified. After these exercises the visitors were shown 
into some of the class rooms, where hoth teachers and pupils 
showed a modest confidence and self-possession not easy to assume 
before a crowd of critical strangers. Had every school in the 
country a teacher trained in such a school as this, the superintend- 
ent in his visits would not find teachers too diffident to answer his 
questions, or go on with classes in his presence. Order, system 
and neatness were apparent in the movements of each pupil, and 
in everything about the building. It is only to be regretted that 
the means at command are not sufficient to put the surroundings of 
the building in keeping with the interior management. 
Statistics. 
A paper or circular from the Department of Agriculture was 
read and explained. The circular asked for statistics of fruit trees 
and fruit products. A committee of Messrs. Brand, Grimes and 
Jewell was appointed to collect and prepare such statistics. 
Plums. 
Mr. Boxell’s paper on the improvement, propagation and culti- 
vation of the Plum was then read by the Secretary, and ordered 
published in the Transactions. 
IMPROVEMENT, PROPAGATION AND CULTIVATION OF THE PLUM. 
Secretary Minnesota State Horticultural Society : 
Deak Sir :—Much to my regret, I shall not be able to attend the meeting 
at Winona, and although I do not think I have any special knowledge of 
the subject, I shall, in compliance with your request, give you a few notes at 
random, on the ‘‘ Improvement, Propagation and Cultivation of the Plum.’’ 
Trees. 
First get your trees. My first plan was to take sprouts in the spring 
from trees growing in the thickets which we had marked when the fruit 
was ripe. Selecting some for extreme earliness, some few for lateness, 
