HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY, 259 



The Society could readily understand that the matter was in a 

 very unsatisfactory condition. He wished something could be 

 done to make the station effective and in that event to have Mr. 

 Gideon continued. He had thought it no more than proper to 

 mention the peculiar relations existing between him and the 

 board of regents. 



Mr. Dartt. Mr. Chairman, perhaps I am not the right one to 

 say anything on this question, although I may understand it as 

 well as anybody. If there is dissatisfaction with the work of 

 that station, and Mr. Gideon is not earning his money, and if 

 this law ought to be repealed, if they get some member of the 

 legislature to introduce a bill it will undoubtedly go through; 

 because they say they are rather short for funds down there. 

 And if they can cut off $1,000 without doing any particular harm 

 I think they will be willing; the only thing required to be done 

 will be to start the bill. 



In regard to the station I am superintendent of, I may say 

 that I suppose the regents have authority, and may now have 

 the funds with which to support the station. I think that is 

 the understanding at the present time, so that no legislation in 

 thatdirection is necessary. 



Prof. Porter said it was proper to make an explanation in re- 

 gard to that matter. The bill creating the Owatonna station had 

 been passed near the close of the last session of the legislature 

 and after the appropriation bills for the support of the university 

 had been passed. When the requisitions for the annual support 

 of the university were made up it was not known the new station 

 had been contemplated; consequently the amount required for 

 its S]Lipport was not included in the appropriation. When the 

 bill became a law and the board found themselves charged with 

 the support of the station they were without funds for that pur- 

 pose. That was the conditions of things. The money that was 

 asked for was required for particular objects that had to be pro- 

 vided for. When the new station was created it was very much 

 like the thirteenth guest that comes in after the pie has been 

 cut, and when they looked for the thirteenth piece it wasn't there. 

 As many of the members knew it became necessary to rely to 

 some extent upon the generosity of a private individual, and the 

 station was started very imperfectly with that aid and some 

 subscriptions added by citizens of Owatonna. When we came 

 to the next year we were in about the same fix. We were 

 charged with the responsibility of the station and were very anx- 



