HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 217 



A gentleman intimated that it was not safe for our horticultural- 

 ists that went out with the farmers' institute to tell the whoe 

 straight truth as it would be too discouraging; and that we must 

 blur it over, as it were, in order to make the people believe we are 

 making progress. Now, it occurs to me that that was a wrong 

 teaching. I say the truth should be told fairly and squarely how- 

 ever unpleasant it may be, and I hope that all of you will go upon 

 principle rather than policy; that you will make truthfulness the 

 rule of your lives, and I think if you do that, whether you please 

 the multitude or not, you will please yourselves. 



REMARKS BY J. T. GRIMES, OF MINNEAPOLIS. 



Young men of the state agricultural school, we are glad 

 to meet you here today, but after all the wisdom that has been 

 supplied by my predecessors who are all older and more 

 experienced than myself it would be hardly necessary for me to 

 add a word. I will only say this: That the world is making 

 progress. When I was a boy it was thought that if a boy wasn't 

 smart enough to be a lawyer or a preacher, or a doctor, he would 

 perhaps do for a farmer. Now, you have placed yourselves under 

 the care of a very efficient teacher, one whom I have known a long 

 time and who is capable of giving you good instruction in the 

 right and proper direction. It is for you to receive the benefit of 

 that instruction cheerfully at his hands. This is an age of pro- 

 gress. I remember the time when the first steamboat was started, 

 and when our freight cars were drawn by horses. We had no 

 telegraph, we had no telephone, and a great many things we did 

 not dream of at that time, are now in use, and are things that we 

 cannot very well do without. Now, you are living, as one of my 

 colleagues has said, in an age of knowledge, you are living in an 

 age when you have all the benefit of the knowledge the world has 

 acquired. And you have an opportunity now to improve that 

 knowledge and make it your own. You will find it capital that 

 will be of use to you in your future life. 



All I have to say further is: "Improve the opportunities 

 you have." (Applause.) 



REMARKS OF J. S. HARRIS, LA CRESCENT. 



Mr. President and youug men of the state agricultural col- 

 lege: It is hardly fair to call me up after these wise and 

 eloquent men, that have just spoken. I am heartily glad 

 to welcome you to participate in this meeting and to take lessons 

 from the objects which are upon exhibition before us. This 

 horticultural society is one that I take a great deal of pride in; I 



