Minnesota State Horticultural Society. 



A. W. LATHAM, SECY. 



Another beautiful day greeted the first summer meeting of 

 the society following the semi-centennial anniversary of its or- 

 ganization. A record of approximately twenty-five years, every 

 summer gathering of the society during that period being on a 

 pleasant day, is certainly worth special notice. 



The attendance at the meeting was all that could be expected. 

 No attempt was made to keep any record of it ; from two to three 

 hundred were in and about the building approximately all the 

 time, a constant stream coming and going from the time the 

 exhibition was opened at noon until 8:30 P. M., when the few 

 flowers that were left which had not been sold for the benefit of 

 the Red Cross fund were turned over to representatives of two 

 city hospitals, who were there to receive them. 



Considering the character of the season the exhibition was a 

 most excellent one. The principal feature of these summer 

 gatherings for many years has been the peony exhibit. This 

 year the season being so late many varieties of peonies were not 

 yet in flower, but there were enough there, including roses, peren- 

 nial flowers, etc., to well fill all of the six tables which had been 

 arranged in the center of the hall and the tables running around 

 the outside walls and also three round tables standing in front of 

 the long center tables. The arrangement of the hall was made 

 by Prof. Cady, of University Farm, who had general charge of 

 matters connected with the meeting, and Mrs. E. W. Gould, the 

 president of the Garden Flower Society, who gave special atten- 

 tion to the arrangement and management of the exhibits. The 

 large number of volunteer assistants, mainly connected with the 

 Garden Flower Society, who had much to do with the installation 

 and care of the various exhibits, and their presence and their 

 readiness to give information, added greatly to the value of the 

 exhibition. If the meeting had been held a few days later the 

 display of peonies would undoubtedly have been larger, but could 

 hardly have been finer. 



The very large gymnasium room in which the exhibition was 

 held is especially well adapted for this purpose, being well lighted 



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