_ Diseussion on the address was se meh byw tae 
COMMITTEE ON OBITUARY. 
i ee 
The ea moved that ne to consist of ‘ sa 
the same committee be requested to prepare an 7 obitaaees n 
the transactions. The motion was carried. 
CATALPA. 
Mr. Harris read a communication from Mr. Douglas, of Wauke- 
gan, on the Hardy Catalpa, and remarked that if the trees were 
hardy we ought to know it, and if not we ought to report the fact. 
Mr. Elliot mentioned the fact that one had ‘Deg growing on iS 
Mr. Pettit’s grounds for several years. : 
Mr. Harris. I move that it be the sense of the Horticultubal 
Society, that the Catalpa is not hardy in Minnesota, and that we 
do not advise the planting of it except for experiment. The mo- 
tion was carried, | 
| SECRETARY’S REPORT. 
The secretary made his report, and motion was made and carried 
to file, for publication with the proceedings. The following is the 
report: 
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:—The by-laws of our society make it 
the duty of the secretary to report at the annual meeting an abstract of the 
matter that has come into his hands. I suppose your president enjoys a monop- 
oly of suggestions of general policy, of regrets at past misfortune, of congratu- 
lations over successes, and of glowing anticipations concerning the future. I 
might therefore be pardoned if my report’ were only a dry and colorless presen- 
tation of facts. 
Some facts there are, however, which strike more forcibly the recording officer 
of your society than any one else. I trust you will permit me to make some ob- 
servations on these also. : 
