Minnesota STATE HorTicuLTuRAL SOCIETY. 101 
Obituary. 
Since our last annual meeting one of our number and one of Minnesota’s most 
— active and intelligent pomologists has been called to higher, and, may we not 
hope, to a better sphere, and that our loss may be his gain. I refer to Dr. P. A. 
Jewell, of Lake City, and I hope at the proper time suitable resolutions will be 
an and spread upon the record, and copies furnished his friends and family. 
is illness was reported at our last meeting, and all regretted his absence, and 
were in hopes he would soon be among us again, to give his ripe experience and 
counsel, and advise us new beginners. I trust the committee on obituary will 
see that one is prepared for publication in our next Transactions. 
Retrospect. 
In closing, may I not be permitted to glance over the past year of 1878, which, 
taking the year through, was remarkable for the moderate winter weather and 
the extreme heat and wet of July, that damaged the wheat crop to such an extent, 
and at the same time ruined our raspberry crop, or mine at least. it blighted as 
badly and as quickly as did the wheat. The late frost in spring destroyed a 
large portion of the fruit of all kinds, not only in Minnesota, but in many other 
States. Apples, plums and strawberries suffered severely in most parts of our 
State; still the supply of Minnesota fruits of all kinds, with exception of plums, 
was never as plenty in the St. Paul market asin 1878. Had it not been for the 
late frost I have no doubt the quantity would have been doubled. 
Fruit at the Fairs. 
The quantity of fruits and quality on exhibition at our State Fair and at the 
Minneapolis Fair, I see by the programme were to have been read and discussed ere 
this, but notwithstanding, I must call your attention to that magnificent bushel 
of cranberries raised and exhibited by Russell, Lane & Co, of Morristown, Rice 
county. They and the State might well feel proud of such fruit; and should it 
not encourage others to embark in the culture of cranberries. The cranberries 
were accompanied with a statement of their name and cultivation, yield per acre, 
&c., a copy of which I hope will be received from the secretary of the State Agri- 
cultural Society, for publication in these Transactions. 
Agricultural College and State Reform School. 
I will here express my thanks, and I think this society and the county at large 
should thank our Secretary, Professor of Agriculture, State University, for the 
display of vegetable and other products made at our State Fair; also the State 
Reform School, and the officers and young men thereof. Such displays from 
State institutions always help at our fairs, not only to make a display, but to 
spread information among our citizens, and to show that taxes paid for their sup- 
port are not thrown away, and that we may yet expect great results from them 
in aiding agriculture and horticulture in our State. I hope that a committee will 
be appointed from this society to visit the University and State Reform School 
next summer, in the gardening season, and there learn all that will be of advan- 
tage to us of their new varieties and modes of cultivation, and show them that 
we appreciate their efforts, and that they can be of great and lasting benefit to 
