STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 25 



liberations. I hope you will not take this as a mere formal expression 

 of courtesy, usual on such occasions, for I know of no association of 

 men or women whose aims and occupations are more nearly related 

 to the highest interests of our city — and when I say city I include 

 the State — than those which you represent. 



As you are aware, our beautiful city, thus early in her history, has 

 already become somewhat famous for her conventions. The disciples 

 of all professions — theology, medicine, law, agriculture, the arts and 

 sciences — all here find their favorite place of rendesvous; nay, indeed, 

 so ambitious have our people become in this direction, that lately, as 

 you are aware, they even attempted to capture one of the largest po- 

 litical parties of the country, to hold its convention in this city. The 

 attempt, however, was unsuccessful. But had it been otherwise, I 

 doubt if the expenditure of time and money, and I may add spiritual 

 condiments, would have inured an hundred-fold more to (he interests 

 of the city and State, had it been devoted to the developement of the 

 industries you represent. 



Gentlemen, the city of Minneapolis has cause to feel proud that you 

 honor her to-day with your presence. Your discussions it may be 

 tend to some extent to your personal interest, but this city and this 

 State will gain an hundred-fold more than you yourselves. 



You are the men who, by patience, intelligence, skill and energy, 

 have placed on our tables as appetizing fruits as any reasonable man 

 can desire — as beautiful flowers as Paradise can offer — and delicious 

 sweets, scarcely inferior to those of Cuba. 



This we already know. We know that even the simple parlor of the 

 laboring man may be adorned all the dreary winter long with flowers 

 which make his home a lovely summer. We know that the growers 

 of Amber Cane have placed the sweets of the tropics in many a hum- 

 ble home which could not otherwise have been enjoyed. Your 

 victories thus far should satisfy you, and yet with the true old Anglo- 

 Saxon spirit, you thirst for more. 



What a mighty revolution has your skill, intelligence, untiring in- 

 dustry and patience wrought in this great Northwest within the last 

 twenty-five years! When, in 1850, I came to this State from New 

 York, no one there believed that anything except the most hardy 

 vegetables, such as cabbage, potatoes and turnipS; could here be raised. 

 One or two of the small grains, as oats and buckwheat, might some- 

 times be relied on to get through. For the rest, lumber and furs were 

 supposed to be the only sources of industry. No fruits and flowers 

 were ever to be seen. It was a veritable Botanys Bay, to which we, who 



