STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 29 



EEPORTS FEOM LOCAL SOCIETIES. 



The Secretary then read the following report : 



REPORT OF THE SOUTHERN MINNESOTA HORTICULTU- 

 RAL SOCIETY. 



To the Secretary of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society: 



Before reporting the status of our present societ}' at this place, it 

 may be well to speak briefly of its predecessor. 



The Olmsted County Horticultural Society held its last semi-annual 

 meeting June 11, 1887, under a giant cotton wood tree, known as the 

 "Zumbro Chief," standing on the banks of the Zurabro river, about 

 one mile north of the city of Rochester. The tree is said to be the 

 largest in the county. Thirty or forty people were present. 



The exhibit of strawberries was probably the finest ever shown in 

 Southern Minnesota. A. W. Sias, of this city was the largest exhib- 

 itor, showing eight varieties. F. W. Louden, of Janesville, Wis., 

 furnished some fine specimens of the "Jessie," one berry measuring 

 nine inches in circumference. Several members took specimens of 

 the "Jessie" to their homes to plant the seeds; and we may expect 

 that Olmsted county will in the near future produce a new strawberry 

 worthy, at least, of notice, p 



A fine photograph of the berry exhibit and of the people present, 

 with the giant tree in the background, was furnished at a moderate 

 figure to all who desired it. The purpose of the society is hereafter to 

 hold its summer meetings in the vicinity of some noteworthy horticul- 

 tural object lesson. 



The fifteenth annual session of the society was held at the Citv 

 Hall in this city, Jan. 7, 1888. Before this meeting it became im- 

 pressed upon the minds of some of the members that a change was 

 needed. For, although the society had been in existence for fifteen 

 years, the result of its labors had been anything but satisfactory, and 

 this seemed largely due to the fact that so few workers could be found 

 in the county with interest enough in horticultural matters to share 

 the burdens of cariying on the work of the society that they might 

 enjoy the benefits of its existence. 



J. S. Harris, of La Crescent, an honorary life member of the society, 

 in a letter to President Sias, strongly urged the organization of a so- 

 ciety with a wider field of action, and thus enlist the interest and 



