220 ANNUAL .REPORT 



cut all palmers to fifteen minutes, and allow only the same time 

 for discussion, and restrict speakers to two minutes. This will 

 sharpen up the papers and debates. Let your program be as 

 varied as possible, and not too many papers on one interest. I 

 think tree peddlers ought to be raked over the coals again, and 

 roast them worse than ever. ''The Chain" gang that hails from 

 Sparta, Wis., played a big game in Wisconsin, getting orders 

 under false pretenses, and delivering from Ohio. They were 

 badly baffled by the lights that emanated from our annual June 

 meeting. Stir them up, and all other swindlers. 



If circumstances so turn, I shall be happy to be at your meet 

 ing, but expect now to go as delegate to the I^orthern Illinois 

 Horticultural Society, January 11th and 12th, at Kankakee. 

 Perhaps President Smith will be all you can use from the Badger 

 State. 



With kind regards and great success attending your Society, 

 I remain very truly yours, 



Geo, J, Kellogg, 



LETTER FROM OLIVER GIBBS, JR. 



Ramsey, McCook Co,, Dakota, 

 Jan, 6, 1887. 



To the State Horticultural Society : 



Thanks and congratulations, kind greetings to old friends in 

 the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. By request of your 

 secretary a note or two from South Dakota. 



As I write at nine o'clock this morning, the mercury lies 

 quietly in the bulb. If there is any truth in the theory that it is 

 the cold weather that kills our trees, this time 



"The tyrannous breathing of the North 

 Shakes all our buds from growing." 



But mark you, the ground did not freeze last fall till Novem- 

 ber. There was a moderate supply of rain just before the snow 

 had lain well; there have been no sudden changes with wide range 

 of temperature. Probabilities : trees that were healthy in Novem- 

 ber are healthy still. 



Having been here but one year, and much occupied with 

 home affairs, traveling little, observations are limited. Saw no 

 fruit trees in bearing last fall; saw none large enough, though 

 lots of small ones on various farms, tracks of the missionary. 



