52 ANNUAL REPOKT 



had commenced at the wrong end by commencing first with the 

 organization of a state society; that if we had commenced with 

 these small organizations in towns and counties we might have 

 been able to have a state society with from 2,000 to 5,000 mem- 

 bers; and that we ought to use every legitimate means to increase 

 its membership. But, gentlemen, when we were a little band 

 of a dozen members, people abused us; they said "get out of our 

 way, you cranks, what do we want of you." But our numbers 

 steadily increased until we had fifty or sixty members at one of 

 meetings at St. Paul. At one time we invited the legislature 

 and the governer over here to Minneapolis, and it was found best 

 to spare us a little longer. The legislature listened to our plea 

 and gave us a little aid, and published our transactions in 1873. 

 We went to them again and asked for help for an experimental 

 fruit station, for the originating of new varieties. This request 

 was granted and a fruit farm was purchased at Minnetonka, and 

 Peter M. Gideon placed in charge. It was a little rough, but 

 they did not ignore us. A short time after that we wanted 

 $1,000 a year to aid our Society in distributing its reports, and 

 in employing a secretary to take the minutes. We got it. We 

 have asked for an experiment station between the two cities; we 

 have got it. And we asked for an experiment station at Owa- 

 tonna, and we have that, with a prominent officer and member 

 of the Society in charge, where we intend to keep him so long as 

 he does his duty. 



I trust the members of this Society will remember that we 

 have organized at least one district horticultural society in this 

 state; that there is room for three more, and room for a hundred 

 county and town societies. 



President Elliot. I wish to call attention to one thing men- 

 tioned in the report and that is in reference to the membership 

 fee of fifty cents, and members of the society being entitled to a 

 copy of our reports. Is that not rather hard on the State So- 

 ciety*? By becoming a member of the district society should 

 they be entitled to them without paying one dollar ? 



Mr. Sias. Mr. President, as a general thing if I undertake to 

 differ with Bro. Harris I make a mistake, and it turns out that 

 he is right and I am wrong; but there was one little point that 

 he made that I was not exactly satisfied with. The most that he 

 said was correct and I agree with him, but in regard to our hav- 

 ing made a mistake when we organized a state horticultural so- 

 ciety, instead of beginning with township and county societies, 



