HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 107 



taken for all would sympathise with Mr. Day in this time of his 

 affliction and sorrow. 



On motion of Mr. Brand the resolutions were unanimously 

 adopted. 



Mr. Brand, from committee on program, recommended that 

 the report of the seedling committee be deferred till Thursday 

 morning. 



LETTEE FEOM ME. BUSHNELL. 



St. Paul, Minn., Jan. 16, 1889. 



Wyman Elliot, President Horticultural Society, 



My Dear Sir : The Minnesota State Agricultural Society 

 extends to the State Horticultural Society its cordial greeting, 

 and the earnest wish that you may be very successful in your 

 grand work the present year. I shall try and visit your meet- 

 ing, if possible. 



Yours truly, 



Wm. M. Bushnell, 

 President Minnesota State Agricultural Society. 



The following paper was then read: 



WILD FEUITS OF MINNESOTA. 



By Col. J. H. Stevens, Minneapolis. 



Mr. President, Ladies aud Gentlemen of the State Horticultural Society: 

 The part of the exercises assigned me at this annual meeting 

 is in relation to the early wild fruits of Minnesota. 



When we consider that the tiny wild Siberian crab is the 

 parent of the common apple, the sloe, the original parent of the 

 improved plum, and that the many delicious fruits of the day — 

 large and small — which are so abundant and derived from the 

 humble parentage of their wild ancestors, of the forest and field, 

 the mountain and valley, we must acknowledge that the world 

 is greatly indebted for this wild product — the handiwork of 

 dame Nature. It is highly proper then, that their merits should 

 be briefly considered. 



