STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 6T 



It is said : " The fool and squanderer march along, heedless of the 

 -coming disaster; the wise man acts in time to prevent it." 



NEW VARIETIES. 



Those seeking to introduce new varieties of fruits or vegetables 

 should exercise great care and judgment that none are sent out except 

 those of fixed character and value. Too many of us are solicitous for 

 our new varieties, when it would be much better for us to cling to the 

 old, tried sorts; and we often do not stop to consider when we have 

 produced a new seedling tree, fruit or vegetable, whether it possesses 

 fine qualities of acknowledged superiority, better than some kinds 

 now in cultivation, but seud it forth for public favor regardless of its 

 hardiness, productiveness, quality', size, shape, color or texture, think- 

 ing it will come into prominence if we boom it with glaring advertise- 

 ments. Until a variety has been thoroughly tested and found posses- 

 sing many good qualities, equal to or better than those already in the 

 market, it should be considered with temerity. We, as horticultural- 

 ists, should adopt a conservative policy in regard to buying high- 

 priced varieties. Many of us have bought our experience, sometimes 

 dearly, and we should hoist the red flag of warning to caution new 

 members and amateurs in the business. Until new varieties have 

 been tested at a number of our experiment stations, we, as members 

 of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, should be cautious in 

 recommending their sale or distribution. 



HORTICULTURAL IJSTSTITUTE WORK. 



The special act of the legislature that created the Farmers' Insti- 

 tute also gave the president of your Society a voice and vote in its or- 

 ganization, electing of superintendent and supervision of his work; 

 and as your servant, entrusted with this responsibility, I have tried to 

 exercise my best judgment, and act for the best interests of the Hor- 

 ticultural Society. If I have erred in the performance of these duties 

 it has been the fault of the head, and not of the heart, for I have al- 

 ways felt that what was for your interest should take precedent in 

 each and every action that demanded special, intelligent, thoughtful 

 consideration in a broad-gauged, unbiased policy. 



I have taken some pains to keep posted in regard to the class of in- 

 struction that was being given at the various institutes in the interest 

 of horticulture and the manner of its presentation, and I have to re- 

 port that we have not as yet been able to place such teachers in the 



