76 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



this contest and that number of orchards were planted. We have 

 not heard from all of them this season. Twelve have so far 

 reported, and undoubtedly we shall hear from the others. As 

 far as known the orchards are generally in good condition. 



It will be necessary on account of the increase of the cost of 

 printing paper to ask for a somewhat larger appropriation from 

 the state legislature for printing purposes at the coming session. 

 The appropriation for the uses of the society has been for some 

 years $3,000 per annum, and the printing appropriation $3,500. 

 An increase of $500 for the printing appropriation is absolutely 

 necessary to take care of our large issue of magazines and reports 

 under the increased prices prevailing. 



The library has had quite a good many accessions this year, 

 in all 149 volumes, this bringing the number of volumes in the 

 library as registered up to 3,449. The titles of the books which 

 have been added to the library in 1916 will be found on page 509 

 of the report of the society for that year. The most important 

 addition has been a set of twelve volumes of Luther Burbank's 

 "Methods and Discoveries," an elegant affair which we were for- 

 tunate in securing for thirty per cent, of the regular price. We 

 have found it necessary to purchase several new book cases to 

 accommodate this large increase in our library. 



The society has never been stronger in its working member- 

 ship, nor had a more hopeful outlook than at present, and we 

 anticipate an increased interest in its work and a continually 

 enlarged membership. The finances of the society are in excel- 

 lent condition as indicated by the secretary's financial report 

 and the treasurer's report to be published later. 



One day last summer I saw a man in town with two bushels of the 

 largest and finest-looking currants I ever saw. He sold them at eight cents 

 a quart as fast as he could measure them out. Everybody declared they 

 were a new variety, and he could have taken several orders for cuttings. 

 When he was done I told him that I knew they were the old Cherry cur- 

 rant, and asked him how he grew them so large and fine. He said he had 

 them planted along the east side of a six-board fence, so that they were 

 shaded from the afternoon sun. Then he manured the bushes heavily with 

 coarse barn-yard manure applied in the fall. That's all there was to it. 

 Ordinary Cherry currants went begging at five cents a quart, and his were 

 snapped up at eight cents as fast as he could handle them. 



