Minnesora STaTeE HorricuLTuraL Sociery. 85 
' Mr. Wardell. Six years ago I planted 25 acres: for shelter and 
timber. Planted White Willow, Cottonwood and Soft Maple. 
Planted the Willows four feet apart and after five years took out 
enongh for two years’ use. A neighbor runs three_fires from the 
trimmings of six acres. Hecutsin June, seasons for one month, 
and then puts into the shed. I cultivated the trees like corn for 
three years. They are a source of profit, ornament and usefulness. 
I can sell my farm for from $10.00 to $15.00 per acre more than I 
could without them. My grove and orchard are the last things to 
be neglected. I would plant again in the same way. Have not 
yet taken out any trees, but only branches. Where the trees have 
been mainly lost in any way, the remaining ones are of lijtle 
account. Everywhere they succeed best with close planting and 
the thinning process. 
Mr. Hodges. Two years’ cultivation is required before planting 
for subduing the prairie sod. 
It was moved and seconded to take up the report section by 
section, which motion was carried. The first section was read. A 
motion was made to amend it so that it would correspond to the 
action of the State Forestry Association. 
A motion was made and seconded to lay the report on the table 
to be taken up at any time. 
This motion was carried. 
PRESIDENT SMITH’S ADDRESS. 
President Smith then read his annual address, which was ordered 
on file for publication. The following is the address in full: 
Ladies and gentlemen of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society: 
Another year has passed, and we meet again for mutual instruction, to review 
the past and prepare for the future. When we turn back the pages of history, 
both sacred and profane, we find Horticulture old as man himself; that it was 
the first occupation of man, and has continued to occupy his attention more or 
less ever since, and yet, how imperfectly is it understood. Then why should we 
be discouraged if we can not solve all of its problems in the short space of a few 
years. Yet while Horticulture is so old, Horticultural Societies are of recent 
origin. The oldest in the world of which we can find any record being but 
seventy years, and within the memory of many still living, was organized in 
London in A. D. 1308, and called the London Horticultural Socicty. One noble- 
man, Sir Joseph Banks, and two private gentlemen, were chiefly instrumental in 
its organization. This society establi:hed the first experimental garden in A. D. 
1817; and this model garden still exists and flourishes at Chiswick, having been 
removed there in the year 1822. From this beginning horticultural and kindred 
societies soon sprang up and flourished in different parts of the old world, Ger- 
