MinnesoTa State HorTicurTurRAL Socirery. 89 
fanatic, propose a new plan; one I am confident, if well matured and properly 
conducted, will Jo more to stimulate and increase an interest in, and advancement 
of, not only horticulture but agriculture and other kinds of employment, than all 
the fairs ever held. It is this: establish in every town or city, big or small, a 
central and well filled public market, where all can meet and bring the products 
of the garden and farm, and have ample room to display and arrange to the best 
advantage whatever they may have to sell, be the same a load of wheat or pota- 
toes, a cow, horse, or apples, grapes, vegetables, or a bouquet of flowers. Here 
would come together both producer and consumer, the producer as exhibitor and 
the consumer as judge. The latter will be ready and willing to pay a premium 
on the best and finest grown specimens of every kind, in better price and more 
ready purchase, while the man who produces the best will receive his premium, 
without the interference of any rings or national rules, or without peing com- 
pelled to spend the entire week waiting io know whether he is entitled to a 
premium or not. Here all can meet on common ground, and show what they 
have to the best advantage; and where all come into competition, does it not give 
us all a chance to see the best and to learn of new varieties and new modes of 
cultivation? If any one has anything new all want to know about it, how it 
succeeds, where it can be obtained, &c.; and can we not there learn and see much 
without loss of time, money or stock on exhibition. We can have a short meet- 
ing in some suitable location, for discussion, if desirable, without much extra 
expense in time or money. I firmly believe, after an experience of many years in 
the business, that if the farmers and gardeners in each and every town or city, 
would agree to sell their produce at a central location or market, and upon a 
regular market day, in small towns once a week at a certain place and time of 
day, and in city three times a week or every day, the producer and consumer 
would both be greatly benefited thereby, and an interest in horticulture be raised 
and encouraged among the masses. 
Now, as heretofore, I must advise you to go slow in order to make haste, and 
in order to accomplish the most good in the shortest space of time. Let us be very 
careful to only recommend for general culture such varieties of fruits, flowers, 
vegetables or trees and shrubs as are well known to succeed with ordinary care 
and cultivation and such only as will succeed in most of the soils and situations 
where the masses are likely to plant them. For instance, we all know that the 
Duchess apple and the crab apples are likely to succeed in most soils and localities, 
and will give more dollars and more satisfaction. A few trees or plants that are 
hardy and will succeed and produce fruit in abundance are more satisfactory 
than whole orchards or plantations of worthless stuff. Fruit growmg in Minne- 
sota, for the present, at least, will be pursued by those who have a love for it and 
by those who are willing to take care of and study the habits and wants and 
necessities of the kinds planted and the soils and situations most suitable for 
their growth, instead of by those who seek the profit there is in large planta- 
tions and orchards without care or thought of what is to be a success. I for one 
believe that with proper selections of soils, locations and varieties, fruits, such 
as apples, cranberries, grapes and other small fruits can be grown with a reason- 
able profit to the grower to supply the wants of our own citizens and some to 
export, with the addition of health and wealth to our entire state. 
In closing let me urge you, one and all, to help bring about a more general 
knowledge of horticulture in all its branches; and here let me say we should devote 
more time to the subject of vegetable culture, all of which is more practical and 
* profitable, as far as our own use is concerned. There are many new and improved 
