ANNUAL WINTER MEETING. 
SI 
“J 
AFTERNOON SESSION, THURSDAY, JANUARY 21. 
The meeting was called to order by Vice-President Wedge 
at 1 o'clock. 
Vice-President Wedge: I believe the first thing on the pro- 
gram is the Question Box, ( These will be found under their ap- 
propriate heads. ) 
Vice-President Wedge: The society will now listen to the 
report of the committee on award of premiums. (See indew.) 
Mr. J. S. Harris then read his report as a delegate to the 
American Pomological Society at Washington. (See indez. ) 
Vice President Wedge: We have with us this afternoon, 
Col. J. H. Stevens, one of the founders of this society, who by 
reason of circumstances over which he has no control is not 
able to be with us this evening. So the society will now listen 
to the address which Col. Stevens had prepared for this evening. 
Col. Stevens then read the following paper which was 
listened to by the society with much attention: 
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE MINNESOTA STATE HORTI- 
GULTURAL SOCIETY. 
COL. J. H. STEVENS, MINNEAPOLIS. 
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 
The mile post of a quarter of a century is reached since the organization 
© our society. We trust our labor has not beenin vain—patience and per- 
severence has been our motto. We celebrate this anniversary under favora- 
ble auspices. The Minnesota vine produces many varieties of grapes. The 
quality of this fruit is superior to that of a more southern product. We 
have great hopes for the future apple. True, we have met with many sad 
disappointments in its culture,but already we are assured of the success of 
a few varieties, and trust that through the efforts of our organization the 
future list will be greatly increased. Should the pyrus malus fail us we 
have only to fall back on the Siberian, which is impregnable. 
We produce prolific crops of small fruits. Our strawberries, currants, 
raspberries, gooseberries, blackberries and blueberries cannot be excelled. 
We have not made the progress we hoped for in plums; nor can we boast 
of our cherry, but still those of a native birth of the former and the Rus- 
sian of the latter, promise a fair supply of each. The peach and pear in- 
dustry still baffles our ingenuity, but we do not despair. The v_ eran 
pomologist, Peter W. Gideon, of Excelsior, has defied our hyperborean 
climate in relation to the product of the former and as usual we fall back 
on the Russian, with hopes for the future in regard to the latter. Much 
attention is bestowed to the shrine of flora. Flower gardens and lawns 
are common; magnificent climhing vines, scarlet lilies, fragrant roses, the 
royal dahlia, the fuchsia, double petunia, geranium, heliotrope, hyacinth, 
pelargonium, gladiolus, verbena and _ kindred varieties of flowers 
abound. Spring is welcomed by the lilac and the crocus, followed by the 
honest dandelion. As summer approaches, the country is full of choice, 
delicate, beautiful flowers. 
a / 3 
