STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 293 



On motion of Prof, Maginnis the executive committee were 

 directed to name the members of the additional committees to be 

 selected hereafter. 



Mr. Harris presented the following, and moved its adoption: 



WJiereas, Our State has a great diversity of soils, elevations, aspects and ex- 

 posures, and consequently diversity of climate, requiring persistent and long 

 coniinued experiment in order to establish a solid basis for successful fruit 

 culture ; therefore, 



Etsolved, That we ask the legislature to establish an additional experimental 

 station on the state school farm at Owatonna, and that we recommend the ap- 

 pointment of Mr. E. H. S. Dirtt of said city, as manager of the same. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Pearce. I don't think it is necessary to open another insti- 

 tution of that kind to be supported by an appropriation by the 

 State. 



Mr. Harris. It would come under the management of the 

 board of regents of the state university. 



Mr. Sias. I am in favor of this proposition. In fact it seems 

 to me that Owatonna is just the place for such a station; as Mr. 

 Dartt has shown us, it is the height of land in all that section of 

 country. His reports for many years past show that it is a very 

 hard place to grow fruit, and anything that would prove hardy 

 there would prove hardy all over the State. Almost everything 

 tried there has failed, and for that reason I would like to see a 

 station located there. Give him a fair chance to test all these 

 different hardy varieties in that exposed location. 



Mr. C. L. Smith. This is a step in the right direction. I 

 don't care whether the State appropriates $10, or $100, or $500, 

 the money can be well expended. In connection with the school 

 at Owatonna a horticultural station would be a grand, good 

 thing, and if no other benefit is derived the horticultural educa- 

 tion afforded the pupils would be worth more than the expense 

 required. The fact might be stated that it is similar to the sta- 

 tion at Minnetonka, and the objection might arise that has been 

 urged against the management of that station. I don't care to 

 discuss that at all, for I think Mr. Dartt could manage it in a 

 different manner. But if he did not, still so far as an educa- 

 tional station in the direction mentioned, it would be a good 

 thing and worth much more than its cost. 



Mr. Pearce. It seems to me that is the most unfavorable 

 place in the world for trees. Mr. Dartt will say that he has 



