86 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Then my next day's work is to talk on apples. I get up the 

 next day, and talk about the cultivation of apples, and the pros- 

 pect of apples in Minnesota . I tell them what we have done, 

 and what we may expect in future . I try to get every person 

 to set out a few trees, but I do not advise setting them out by 

 the hundred; that is too soon yet. I talk on that subject and 

 they appear well satisfied with my talk. 



Then again I must say a word in regard to our books . Now 

 our horticultural works have been lying in the state house . 

 Our friend here has taken the pains of sending these books 

 wherever we have held institutes. You would be surprised to 

 see how hungry the people are for those books. And I will say 

 right here that we have never had one-half enough to go round, 

 yet we have had two hundred to hand round at each session. Now 

 we want a book and we want a medium to get that book to the 

 farmer. There is little use to come here and talk over horticul- 

 ture from year to year, unless we can make a practice of get- 

 ting our books into the hands of farmers . 



Now while I talk on these subjects our friend, Mr. Gregg, 

 has been very liberal with me regarding time, and has also 

 frequently called me up to discuss the question of forestry 

 planting, which I have done on several occasions, because this 

 thing of seeing men live on the bleak prairie with but one 

 board between them and the north pole, I have a very poor 

 opinion of, (applause) and I recommend planting evergreens 

 round the house, and tell them what they may expect if they 

 do it, and where Mr. Gregg has given me the privilege of talk- 

 ing on this subject, I have never heard such an inquiry for 

 trees as has been made where I have been . 



This is the institute work, and it is one of the best works that 

 has ever been accomplished with the farmers, and they are a 

 people that want teaching . (Applause . ) 



Mr. Thayer : — I would like to ask the gentleman whether he 

 is employed by the Horticultural Society or by the institute 

 proper, and do they allow him to take his time at every 

 session? 



Mr. Somerville: — Every time. I am employed by the insti- 

 tute. 



Mr. Thayer: — Your people are more generous than ours are 

 in Wisconsin. 



Mr. Somerville : — I would say right here, friends, our friend, 



