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68 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
treatment should be applied to the great centre of sensation and percep- 
tion (the brain) by more thorough application and cultivation. Too 
often it is not the unproductiveness of the soil that is the cause of un- 
profitable crops and returns, but the lack of the proper attention at the 
right time. 
The old saying, ‘‘Anything that is worth doing at all, is worth doing 
well,” should be a characteristic trait with all true lovers of horticulture; 
for of all the industries that occupy mankind, those dealing with the 
sensitive structures of living organisms should be most enlightened, 
thorough and careful in whatever they undertake. 
It is a notable fact that all are human, and horticulturists, like other 
men, inclined to do their work the easiest, shortest way, regardless of 
consequences. The choice of will, under certain restrictions, is given to 
every person, but with most people, circumspect penetration, sagacious 
judgment can only be attained by long years of practical experience, 
and where the variations of seasons and soil are so great that no 
systematic or fixed rule of procedure can be arranged, these must become 
cardinal factors in every kind of tillage. 
DEPENDENCE OF SUCCESS. 
I wish to impress this One fact upon the minds of all the members of 
our society,—that the permanence of its prosperity, financially, socially 
and instructively, will be in proportion to their unwavering, constant, 
loyal devotion, with energetic personal efforts, and anxious, watchful 
care for the present as well. as the future prosperity of the horticultural 
industries of our state. The success of our society in helping solve the 
intricate problems that a northern climate presents, does not depend so 
much upon its officers as the individual efforts of its members, 
working as specialists, in their several lines of work. Unforeseen 
obstacles may, for a series of years, bar our pathway to success 
in the pomological development of horticulture, but ultimate success 
like a river will find its way to the sea, in spite of every opposi- 
tion, if we but use our energies of mind and hands properly in studying 
the causes and effects governing tbe characteristic natural laws of pro- 
duction. We may theorize, speculate or conjecture what is the cause of so : 
many failures in growing of the larger fruits, but after all we have to fall 
back upon practicable means for producing fruits under such adverse 
circumstances as are to us continually presented. 
OVER-PRODUCTION, ETC. 
We often hear the cry from fruit and vegetable growers that ‘‘over- 
production is the true cause of prices being less than the cost of raising 
and preparing for market.” Asa whole, there never has been, for a suc- 
cession of years, enough of fruit and vegetable produce tu supply what 
the people of our land demand. It is concentration of large quantities at 
certain points of distribution; that gives this impression, and when 
we have studied the most economical methods of even wider spread dis- 
tribution, there will be no complaint of over-production. There is no 
farmer’s, mechanic’s, artisan’s or laborer’s table but what should be sup- 
plied with all the ripest, richest of mother earth’s bounteousness. When 
our people learn true wisdom, in consuming more fruits and vegetables, 
and less sweetmeats, adulterated confectionery, and fat meats, their doc- 
tor’s bills will grow less, and physic will not be so much in demand. 
