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88 ANNUAL REPORT. , 
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markets at a small percentage on its cost or worth, in comparison to a at i 
other heavy produce; when we witness its successful cultivation in several of the 
older States, should not we give attention to the subject? Asan illustration of 
its importance, one gentlemen in New Jersey, Jas. Hinchen, near Medford, is 
reported to have commenced about twenty years ago, on an old mill pond of 
ten acres, which cost him to put into a bearing condition about $1,600, and took — 
three years to accomplish it, and from which he has taken seventeen crops with- 
out a failure, and never less than one hundred bushels to the acre. From this 
commencement he has now several hundred acres valued at from $100,000 
to $200,000, with a net increase of from $20,000 to $40,000 per annum, with a 
crop in 1877 that was estimated at twenty thousand bushels, and to require ten 
thousand days’ labor to harvest. This success has been reached in a State where. 
disease and insects prevail to such a degree that the aid of the microscopist of 
the United States Department of Agriculture was called to aid in discovering 
a remedy for the disease of sun scald or rot, which often destroys whole crops of 
many of the growers. Now what this society and the State at large needs most 
is knowledge; to know what to plant; what our particular soil and location is 
most suitable for, what varieties will succeed best, which are the hardiest and 
most productive, which are best adapted to each locality. Now where are we to 
Set this knowledge and to look for correct information on this and other subjects 
of the kind? May we, or should we not, with confidence look to our State Uni- 
versity, the agricultural department thereof, and its professors and students, for » 
much of this information ? 
If we give the encouragement they deserve, and fill their classes and halls with 
our sons and daughters, as we should, will not the great wants of horticulture 
and agriculture soon be spread broadcast all over our state? Especially if in 
addition to the above we organize local, county, town and schcol district societies. 
We should establish or help to establish in every city and town, a system of 
fairs or exhibitions, to be held for the purpose of showing our products in their 
season of maturity and sale. Exhibitions can, if properly managed, be of the 
greatest benefit, both in spreading a desire to excel and in exciting competition, 
and will thereby increase and promote the interests of horticulturein our state, 
until we shall find every school house surrounded with its shade and ornamental 
trees, flowers and shrubs, and every city and town with its parks and lawns well 
planted with shade and ornamental trees well cared fcr. Let us strive to have 
every farm have its fruits, vegetables and flowers in abundance, as well as its 
lawns, shade and ornamental trees, thus causing homes in Minnesota to be loved 
and sought after, and creating a desire among our boys and girls to engage in 
fruit and flower growing, and to make their homes the most pleasant and happy 
places on earth. This matter of exhibitions or fairs has been a study and problem 
upon which most of us have spent much time and thought, and upon which as far 
as I can learn, there has been no satisfactory conclusion arrived at, but one point 
upon which all agree is that there is a necessity for these exhibitions, in order that 
we may see the varieties and samples that we wish to discuss and learn about. 
Who cannot get a better idea of an apple, pear, bunch of grapes, flowers, or any 
thing else we wish to discuss and learn about by having the same bel ore his eyes, 
that he may add the sense of seeing to his facilities for learning the best varieties 
and modes of cultivation. Now, desirable as these frequent meetings and exhi- 
bitions are, few can be induced to attend them—say they can not spare the time, 
and many say it will not pay. 1, for one, believe we can not do without them in 
some shape without great loss, and will, at the risk of ridicule and being called a 
