Minnesota STATE HorrTicuLtTvuraL SOcIETvY. 23 
Spin Owing however to lateness in the arrival of members, the meeting 
was not called to order until 2:45 p. m. 
m ADDRESS OF JUDGE EATON. 
_ At that hour Judge S. W. Eaton, of Rochester, delivered the fol- 
lowing adddress of welcome to the society: 
Gentlemen of the Minnesota State Hortieultural Society : 
Icould wish that one more thoroughly versed in the processes and details of 
_ your occupation had been selected to occupy the position in which I find myself 
placed, but yielding to the earnest solicitation of friends, I have consented to 
address you at this, your yearly convocation, feeling that ] shall receive all rea- 
sonable indulgence at your hands. My remarks, from the reasons stated, will 
necessarily be general in their character and import. 
I see before me gentlemen from various localities in our beautiful and highly 
productive state, representatives of a noble and useful occupation. You haye, | 
take it, assembled at our beautiful and thriving city to compare notes and com- 
municate results of your labor and experiments for the past year; to interchange 
opinions, discuss methods and mature plans for advancement of horticulture in 
our State. 
Your wisdom and business sagacity are apparent in the formation of a society 
to advance the interests and ensure the success of the branch of industry in which 
you are engaged. In concert of action there is strength; in co-operation, the 
grandest results are achieved. In associated effort knowledge is obtained and 
experience and advantages utilized which would be quite impossible in individual 
action. 
Yours is an honorable and a useful occupation. Among the varied instrumen- 
talities of comfort, refinement and civilization, horticulture occupies a prominent 
and an honored position. Wholesome, luscious fruit, as all know, constitutes an 
important factor in the world’s living, and no table, however hum le, is consid- 
ered complete without some portion or variety at least of these toothsome pro- 
ductions. . 
Besides the delicious fruits, no inconsiderable portions of which are being sup- 
plied through the efforts of our horticulturists, we should mention the not much 
less useful, but more ornamental trees, shrubbery, plants and flowers. It has 
been said that he who causes two blades of grass to grow where only one grew 
before, is a public benefactor. On the same principle, but in a larger sense, he 
who causes trees, shrubs, plants and flowers to grow where nothing grew 
before, either useful or beautiful, confers on the public a lasting good. In- 
deed, it is not, perhaps, too much to say, that in this state, where there are 
large treeless districts, the propagation of trees is one of the most necessary and 
important features of our industries. To my mind, a treeless habitation, is no 
home at all. Even the most elegant and costly residence, built on the most 
beautiful and eligible site, lacks one of the most important features and attrac- 
tions of a home, unless surrounded, or at least flanked, by a liberal and tasteful 
show of trees and shrubbery. 
Who, that has any taste, love or appreciation for the beauties and attractions 
of home, would think of building a house, even of inferior dimensions, on the 
bleak and unbroken prairie? Fine, vigorous trees, beautiful in appearance, use- 
ful in breaking the force of the winter winds and yielding their grateful shade, 
