38 ANNUAL REPORT 



party a gentleman by the name of Marshall, from Alleghany 

 City, who had been traveling considerable and had resided in 

 Asia for five years, who stated that he found the climate and the 

 soil here to be very similar to the country visited by him in 

 Northern Asia, where, he said, they were able to grow all kinds 

 of fruit, such as apples, plums, and cherries, and even figs. Of 

 course it is hardly necessary to allude to this among the older 

 members of this Society who have its reports, but it may serve 

 as encouragement to younger members to know that it is possi- 

 ble to raise apples, and all of thes^ tender fruits that are so much 

 to be desired, in these prairie countries. I think I voice the 

 thoughts of those present, when I say we are doubly thankful for 

 the privilege of meeting here, and I think it will be a silent edu- 

 cator for us to hold our summer meetings here; it seems to me a 

 happy thought. Here we have an oppurtunity to learn from 

 observation, which is the best way to learn. We are doing work 

 for the benefit of a vast empire; for there is a vast territory to 

 the west and tributary to these two cities, and I trust what is 

 brought out here will prove of advantage and profit to many. 



Mr. Harris. Mr, President, I see with us to-day Col. D. A. 

 Eobertson, of St. Paul, who had something to do in setting the 

 ball in motion in establishing the Minnesota State Horticultu- 

 ral Society, Since he last met with us he has traveled some in 

 Europe, and I believe we would all be interested in hearing a 

 few remarks from him. 



President Elliot. It gives me great pleasure to have Col. Eob- 

 ertson spoken of, and I hope he will favor us with some remarks. 



Col. Eobertson. Mr. President, I came here because I desired 

 to come; am glad to see the old faces again and to see the work 

 that is going on, and to hear about what I will call the experi- 

 ment farm, what they would call in Europe a botanical garden. 

 I have been very much gratified with your remarks, professor, 

 and I agree with you perfectly as to what should be considered 

 the paramount x>nrpose of investments in such an undertaking 

 as you have commenced here. You embrace many departments 

 of work, but what I regard as of the greatest importance of all, 

 is to have everything begun here that could be of use to the 

 people, to be introduced for experiment, for demonstration, and 

 for the instruction of the people of the State. Here are men 

 whom I see around me who have devoted much attention to 

 horticulture; here are those whom I have known for many years. 

 These men can not afford to establish botanical gardens; experi- 



