412 SEMI-CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY. 



included almost all of those who are termed the "veterans of the 

 Horticultural Society." Mr. Chas. Hoag, of Minneapolis, was 

 chosen president. I remember him as a very genial man, with 

 liberal ideas, full of humor and altogether a wholesome person 

 to be with. 



The fourth meeting was held at St. Paul in January, 1869, 

 occupying rooms in the basement of the Old Capitol. It was the 

 first meeting which I attended, and all of the setting of that 

 meeting, and the people who were there, appear to me as a clearly 

 painted picture. I can hear the voices of those earnest men and 

 see their faces as they sit, few in number, about the room. The 

 records show forty-two names for that year, though no such 

 number were present at the meeting. I had the honor of serving 

 this meeting as secretary pro tern, my first official service for the 

 society. I remember Mr. Wyman Elliot as present, and I recall 

 that he moved to recommend the Soulard crab for general culti- 

 vation. Those who know this fruit these later days will appre- 

 ciate the significance of such a recommendation. At Mr. Elliot's 

 suggestion a first list of apples for planting in the state was pre- 

 pared. I recall also that Amasa Stewart, a prominent early 

 member of the society and nurseryman, residing then at St. 

 Peter, introduced to the notice of the meeting the Stewart seed- 

 ling crab, which afterwards was considerably planted though 

 now not well known amongst the fruit growers. 



The next meeting was held October 2d, the same year, at 

 Rochester. John S. Harris, spoken of previously, was at that 

 time first elected president. He served the society as president 

 three years in succession, and then later in 1891 for two years 

 more, making five years in which he occupied the presidency. 

 There were no prepared programs in these earlier meetings, and 

 nearly everything was by impromptu discussion. This, however, 

 did not detract from the interest of the meetings, which were 

 always of an intense character. 



The next meeting was held in 1870 again at St. Paul. 



The next meeting, that of 1871, was held at Faribault the 

 third week in January, and from then on for a great many years 

 the meetings were held at that mid-winter season. I recall at 

 this meeting especially Mr. A. W. Sias, living at Rochester, very 

 prominent in our counsels from that time on, and until he left 

 the state many years later. He passed away a few years ago at 

 his home in Florida. 



In 1872 the meeting was held again in Minneapolis, R. J. 

 Mendenhall in the chair. At this meeting Mr. John S. Harris 



