504 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Latham: I think the committee was appointed by the 

 executive board. Of course, it in entirely in order for this 

 meeting to endorse the continuation of that committee and ex- 

 press its sentiments. 



The President: It has been moved and seconded that the 

 committee be continued, or rather, the recommendation of the 

 executive board be endorsed. All those in favor say aye. Con- 

 trary no. The ayes have it, and it is so ordered. 



Plant Breeders' Auxiliary. 



The meeting of the Plant Breeders' Auxiliary was called 

 to order by Mr. Clarence Wedge, president. 



The President: Ladies and gentlemen, we now have one 

 of the most important sessions of the meeting, one that gives 

 as much hope as anything of improvement in our work and, in- 

 asmuch as the program is a very long one, I think the best 

 thing for us to do is to get at it without delay. First on the 

 program is the annual report for 1916 of the Minnesota Fruit- 

 Breeding Farm, by Charles Haralson, superintendent. 



Mr. Charles Haralson then read his report of work done 

 during 1916 on the Fruit-Breeding Farm. 



Discussion : 



The President : We will now have to pass to our next sub- 

 ject, the report of the committee on the Fruit-Breeding Farm. 

 The committee is composed of S. A. Stockwell, of Minneapolis, 

 and C. S. Harrison, of Excelsior. We will call on Mr. Stock- 

 well for the report. 



Mr. S. A. Stockwell, of Minneapolis, then read the "Report 

 of Committee on Fruit-Breeding Farm." 



There follows Professor Beach's talk on "Fruit Breed- 

 ing." (See Index.) 



The President: We will next have the pleasure of listen- 

 ing to Professor C. B. Waldron of the Agricultural College of 

 North Dakota, on "Pedigree in Plants." (See Index.) 



The President: It seems necessary that we pass now to 

 our next subject as we only have about half an hour and we 

 all want to hear from Mr. Patten, of Charles City, on his work 

 in the origin and development of hardy, blight-resisting pears. 

 Mr. Patten. (Applause.) 



Mr. Patten: I wish to say, Mr. President, and members, 

 that had it not been for the action taken by this society last year 

 in extending me the honor that it did, I should not have at- 

 tempted to write a paper for this meeting. My nerves are not 

 steady enough, and on reading my paper over since I came here 

 I think my brain is not steady enough. It doesn't just suit me. 



The President: It is all right, Mr. Patten. 



Mr. Patten then read his paper on the subject of "Origin 

 and Development of Hardy, Blight Resisting Pears." (See In- 

 dex.) 



