90 ANNUAL REPORT. 
tural products will form no small share of our commerce and our 
food. Pas) 
Be Cautious. 
Now, to aid in bringing about this good time is what we are here 
for, and in order that we may accomplish this in the shortest possi- 
ble time let us goslow. Be careful what we recommend for general 
cultivation until well tried in different soils and locations, believing 
that such a course will tend not only to advance horticulture and 
fruit-growing, but give the public confidence and show them that 
we at least have no axes to grind and no rings to support. 
Agricultural Society. 
To the officers and members of our State Agricultural Society - 
let us one and all return our thanks for the very satisfactory and 
liberal manner in which, under their many difficulties and extreme 
bad weather, during not only the week of State Fair, but the whole 
fall of 1875, that tended to make the State Fair a failure, paid not 
only our premiums, and fulfilled their obligations not only to this 
Society and its members, but to allothers. It is true that they were 
not able to pay the old premiums of 1874; but as I said last year, 
let us take hold with a will and do our level best to make the State 
Fair of 1876 a great success in every way that we, as horticultur- 
ists, can add to the attractions, and to furnish the very best display 
of fruits and flowers, and other protlucts, ever made in the State of 
Minnesota, and thus enable them to pay all premiums and ex- 
penses, and to pay our old premiums; for I believe all that stands 
in the way of our getting our premiums, as the State Agricultural 
Society is now organized and officered, is their ability to do so. 
I do not think they will keep us out of our money long after one 
successful State Fair. Give them all the support we can, and good 
weather during one State Fair, or two at most, and they will not 
only have the means, but disposition, to pay all to the last cent, 
and will most cheerfully do so. 
Obituary. 
And here let me remark, our late Secretary, L. M. Ford, Esq., 
last winter was appointed to prepare obituaries of deceased per- 
sons, and in our Transactions has published three of men that I 
think never were members of our Society, and to which I have no 
