- id 
; 
162. . ANNUAL REPORT. ne 
ornaments of cut flowers would pass a critic’s eye, showing t Ms 
the City of Brotherly Love was fully up to the standard. The 
word ‘*beautiful’’ seemed to pass every lip, but we thought it a- 
tame expression of what we saw. Among the designs we noticed 
a ship made of cut flowers, which seemed to be plowing the waves 
across the ocean’s broad expanse. Its sails were made of the — 
Wee flowers of the Pampas grass, and stood unfurled before the 
reeze. 
The basement of the building was fitted up for the exhibition — 
of vegetables, of which there was a fine display, but nothing better — 
than we frequently see in our own State. ; 
At the reception given by the Horticultural Society to their 
pomological brethren, President Schaffer received the guests and 
all were made to feel perfectly at home. It was a great occasion 
for those in kindred pursuits to become acquainted with one an- 
other, when hand grasped hand and hearts beat in unison in one 
common cause—there were no ‘‘ speeches’’ for all were full, and 
silence on such an occasion would have been the better part of 
eloquence. 
And while the Horticultural Society evidently felt gratified that 
so many had responded to the invitation, we know that none of 
the guests but felt it was an occasion to be remembered. But 
still there is a lingering of sadness when be bid farewell to those 
veterans whose heads have become white in the pursuit of horti- 
cultural knowledge, and whose faces we shall probably never see 
again this side of the garden of Hden. 
In conclusion our thanks are due to Capt. J. H. Reaney, agent 
for the Keokuk Northern Line Packet Company, for giving us a 
first-class ticket at half-rates from St. Paul to St. Louis on our 
way to the Centennial. We appreciate such liberality when di- 
rected to the interests of a society like ours, laboring at their own 
expense for the public benefit, and we cordially recommend our + 
friends and the traveling public-when going by way of the river 
to patronize said line. 
J. T. GRIMES, 
WrMan ELLiot, 
Delegates of State Hort. Soc. of Minnesota. 
