STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 55 



placed as prominently before the public as possible. Notable 

 among these pa^iers are the following: G. S. Woolsey in an arti- 

 cle entitle ' ' The Propagation and Cultivation of the Strawberry. ' ' 

 Another by C. L. Smith on "Strawberries and their Cultiva- 

 tion." One by N. H. Reeves on the "Formation and Manage- 

 ment of Hotbeds." One by J. J. Xudd upon the "Successful 

 Eaising of Celery in Minnesota." 



The weekly meetings of the society have been well attended. 

 In order to reawaken the society to increased usefulness, the 

 matter was broached of having a meeting of the society during 

 the latter part of January and securing as speakers for the oc- 

 casion men of wide reputation in the branches in which the 

 society is particularly interested. With that end in view the 

 secretary corresponded with several gentlemen who were unable, 

 however, to accept the invitations ou account of the pressure of 

 other duties. The object of this endeavor was to stimulate the 

 pviblic to new interest in the pursuits of the Horticultural So- 

 ciety and Market Gardeners Association of this State, and to 

 allow Minnesota Horticulturists to become personally acquainted 

 with those of other states. 



The annual address from the president, J. S. Gray, contained 

 several suggestions that are of great importance. One being 

 that necessary steps be taken to enfore the laws prohibiting the 

 destruction of insect-eating birds, and that the importance of 

 taking steps to nullify as much as possible the ravages of insects, 

 who yearly destroy crops to the value of one-fifth of the entire 

 agricultural production of this State, be urged upon the legis- 

 lature. 



The annual meeting of the society, held Saturday, Jan. 9, 

 1887, resulted in the election of the following officers for the en- 

 suing year: 



President — J. S. Gray. 



Vice President — Wm. Lyons. 



Secretary and Treasurer — Prof. L. Asire. 



Respectfully submitted. 



J. E. IirORTHRUP. 



The secretary then read the following report: 



