420 ANNUAL REPORT 



meeting that looked as though they were trying to ignore one 

 class for the sake of advancing the interest of another he hoped 

 it would be looked upon with charity. We are all selfish beings 

 and we all have personal interests and they sometimes clash to 

 some extent, but we are trying to accomplish the greatest good 

 to the greatest number. He was gratified with the words of en- 

 couragement received from Mr. Smith and to know that there 

 were others ready and willing to assist us in the good cause. We 

 have had up-hill work in this calling of horticulture, but if we 

 persevere and press forward we shall yet be successful, and will 

 succeed in raising many fruits in Minnesota, that are considered 

 of doubtful value at the present time. If we can prevail upon 

 members of the legislature to look upon the interests we repre- 

 sent in a proper manner there will be no trouble in obtaining 

 such assistance as may be needed in carrying forward the work. 

 In conversation with our governor recently he said we must not 

 be too modest in our demands, and we have in him one who is 

 willing to do all in his power to aid the producing classes. I 

 hope the members of our Society as they depart to their homes 

 will go with a determination to incrciise our membership and 

 extend our influence, to do what they can to establish and build 

 up a strong and efficient horticultural organization in our State. 

 Mr. C. L. Smith. I want to say that I feel gratified with the 

 action taken by this Society in regard to the sale of foreign- 

 grown nursery stock. While it may appear that some have been 

 persistent in iiushing this matter, yet those who have been out 

 among the people on the prairies and have seen them suffer loss 

 in time and money, will understand the reason. No act of the 

 Society, it seems to me, will have a greater influence for the in- 

 terests of the people than the action taken in regard to the fraud- 

 ulent selling of trees and shrubs. The influence of our Society 

 is growing and it is extending its influence into more homes and 

 communities than ever before. We are now changing from the 

 condition of pioneers, with our sod houses and straw sheds, on 

 our open prairie farms, to the more intensive system of farming. 

 These marks of the pioneers a re giving way to more comfortable 

 dwellings and barns, with neat sheds, all surrounded with trees 

 and windbreaks. We have a better system of farming, better 

 breeds of stock, and the work upon the farm generally is carried 

 on more upon an intensive plan than formerly; more attention is 

 given to small fruit and vegetables. The State is ripe for the 

 work to be done by our Society; I believe the legislature will 



