HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 269 



through its vice presidents. They are supposed to be appointed, 

 one from each of the five congressional districts, and required 

 to make an annual report. Now, if there had been no mistake 

 made the vice president from the Second district would have 

 been from Southwestern Minnesota. I don't know whether it 

 was on account of a desire of the Society to honor me that 

 the mistake was made. I presume not; however, I am un- 

 der obligations for the honor they have conferred upon me for 

 several years past, and do not wish to continue to receive that 

 honor to the detriment of a section of the state that is properly 

 entitled to it. Therefore, while thanking you for former honors, 

 I hope this will be corrected when you make up the list of vice 

 presidents to-day. \ 



EEPOET FROM THIRD DISTRICT. 



By Vice President M. Cutler, Sumter. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentle^nen: 



Interest in small fruit growing is still on the increase in our 

 district. Many of our farmers are trying to raise enough fruits 

 for their families. Still I should like to see more interest taken 

 in them. If we were able to employ a good horticultural lec- 

 turer to travel among the farmers and speak on fruit growing, I 

 think it would be of great benefit. 



Strawberries were a good crop and brought fair prices. I am 

 trying several new kinds, and find some very promising. Bu- 

 bach has the strongest looking foliage, and Jessie promises well. 

 I am trying Countess; the vines made a good growth and I look 

 for a good crop the coming season. Through the courtesy, of 

 Wm. Lyons I received and set out six plauts of his new seedling 

 for trial. They made a good growth of plants with fine dark 

 green foliage. As usual, most of my berries were Crescents. 



My red raspberries blighted badly, and I heard complaints 

 from others; wet, hot weather is supposed to have been the 

 cause. Most of my crop of raspberries were Turner's. They 

 were laid down and covered last winter. When we gathered 

 them, those not laid down seemed to be as nice and productive 

 as the others. 



