HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE MINN. STATE HORT. SOCIETY. 417 



The next three years, during which Prof. Pendergast was 

 president, our sessions were held in the Plymouth Church, 

 Minneapolis. The last of these years, 1903, Mr. Wedge was 

 elected president, continuing in that office four years. 



Commencing in 1904 our society held its sessions in the 

 delightful auditorium of the Unitarian Church, in Minneapolis, 

 making a fruit exhibit, of which we were always proud, in the 

 basement. For eight years we continued our annual meetings 

 under these most favorable auspices at the Unitarian Church. 

 The last one of these years was saddened by the sudden passing 

 of our beloved president, Prof. Samuel B. Green. We had lost 

 previously our endeared ex-president, W. W. Pendergast, who 

 passed away in 1903. His passing was anticipated, as he was 

 a man of advanced years, but Professor Green was in the very 

 prime of his life, and it seemed a cruel thing that one whose 

 presence meant so much to us, one so helpful in a thousand 

 ways, should have been thife suddenly snatched from us. 



Mr. Thomas E. Cashman, our present president, was 

 appointed to fill Professor Green's unexpired term, and was 

 afterwards reelected, and has held the office until now, during 

 six (now seven) consecutive years. 



The list of names of those who have occupied the presi- 

 dential chair in our association is one of which we may well be 

 proud, representing as it does ability and virtue and the high 

 standing of so many noble men. The Horticultural Society 

 has certainly been most highly favored in its leadership. 



The society has held summer meetings with almost unvary- 

 ing regularity since the year 1883. Prior to that date the rec- 

 ords show two or three summer meetings at irregular periods. 

 With one or two exceptions these meetings were held at the 

 University Farm. In 1884 and '85 the summer meeting was 

 held in the Market Hall at Minneapolis, in '92 it was held at 

 Lake City, in '94 as the guest of Mrs. Dorillus S. Morrison at 

 her home, Villa Rosa, the place now occupied by the splendid 

 Minneapolis Art Gallery. From then on all the summer meet- 

 ings have been held at University Farm, a remarkable series 

 of meetings, not only from the gatherings and exhibits with 

 which in later years you are familiar, but notably from the 

 phenomenally pleasant weather with which we have been uni- 

 formly favored, at least I am unable to recall any really stormy 

 day for any of these meetings. 



Many things of great importance have transpired during 

 all these years. Our association has always been an optimistic 

 one, and while there have been some dark days despondency has 

 never been the prevailing note at any of its meetings. 



