STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 421 



grant us any needed assistance that may be asked at their hands. 

 It seems to me we have a bright future before us and we may 

 make our Society more useful in the future than in the past. I 

 am sure the people are well satisfied with the progress made and 

 the work we are doing. 



Mr. Hoxie. I have sometimes thought we might accomplish 

 more by adopting the methods used by the Massachusetts society; 

 they hold weekly meetings and issue bulletins giving an outline 

 of their proceedings, thus getting their transactions before the 

 people at once. Farmers are eager to get these reports, and if 

 some such system could be adopted here, I think much benefit 

 would be derived from it. 



Mr. Smith. At the meeting of our Hennepin County Horti- 

 cultural Society, this plan has been practiced to some extent- 

 One of the city papers sent a shorthand reporter to write up the 

 proceedings, sometimes giving two or three columns in their re- 

 ports. The proprietors of the paper were well pleased with the re- 

 sult of that work. They found their readers appreciated the 

 enterprise. I understand these meetings are to be revived. 



Mr. Harris. I think I speak the sentiments of all present 

 when I say this has been an interesting and profitable session 

 of the Society. There has been as good a degree of harmony as 

 could reasonably be expected in so large a company of men from 

 so many different portions of the State, pursuing so many different 

 branches of horticulture. It is for our interest to work in harmony 

 with regard to the general objects had in view. I hope when we go 

 to our homes we may not forget the many lessons learned while 

 here, but be like the ministers who have been np to the general 

 assembly, that we may carry some of the spirit of our work 

 with us and make it a leaven that will work in our several neigh- 

 borhoods, encouraging our neighbors and friends to plant trees 

 and to give them proper cultivation, and eventually to become 

 active members and workers of this Society. It is one thing to 

 be a member, to j)ay in a dollar and receive the annual report of 

 the transactions, and quite another thing to make it the leading 

 aim and object of your life to carry forward the work in which 

 you have enlisted after once having identified yourself with this 

 organization. 



I may say that I have to some extent made this a life work. 

 Our Society has been in existence for more than twenty years; 

 and I have often felt gratified that my name was at the head of 

 the list of names first enrolled cf its members, and that I could 



