STATE HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 429 



should throw more life and vim into it and at the same time start a 

 boom for the organization of a Southern Minnesota horticiiltual so- 

 ciety, second only to the State Society, that may occupy the field be- 

 fore the next session of the State legislature. Such an organization 

 would prove of great benefit to this portion of the State, and would 

 lend new impetus to horticulture and rural adornment. I would have 

 this society to hold annual meetings and exhibitions winter and sum- 

 mer for discussion and the display of the best products of the region. 

 Our State is so large and many of our fruit growers live so remote 

 from the places where meetings are held, that their attendance upon 

 the State Society is out of the question. Many of such could and 

 would attend the meetings of district societies, and would soon get 

 enlisted as active workers in the cause. 



At no time have the people stood so much in need of the education 

 and information that is best imparted through association and experi- 

 ment as at present. Upon the apple question we are badly at sea. 

 Recent great drouths and unfavorable seasons have so broken up our 

 old lists of ironclads that we are compelled to look about for some- 

 thing better to take their place or else throw the whole apple question 

 overboard, and like school children, play that dolls are true babies, 

 and Siberian crabs are apples and monstrous good. The better to put 

 in their place ofi'ered in the recently introduced varieties from Russia 

 and some seedlings of our own just coming to notice, are all untested 

 as to quality, hardiness and adaptibility to Minnesota. To test these 

 alone is of sufiicient importance to warrant the organization of a 

 score of societies and the expending of thousands in money. 

 Your fellow worker in horticulture, 



John S. Harris. 



Following is the annual address of President Sias : 

 ANNUAL ADDRESS. 

 By A. W. Sias, Rochester. 



Members of the Olmsted County Horticultural Society : 



The cause of horticulture has no truer friend or trusty counsellor 

 than the man who suggests that now is the time to "start a boom for 

 the organization of a Southern Minnesota Horticultural Society." 



That Rochester is also "historic ground," being the birthplace of 



