ANNUAL WINTER MEETING. 85 
and it is entitled to it. I think the proposition from the Fores- 
try Association is favorably entertained by the State World's 
Fair Commissioners. Now let us work together to help these 
two grand exhibitions of the growth and progress of Minnesota. 
The secretary here read a letter from J. M. Samuels, chief 
of the department of horticulture, Washington: 
WORLD’s COLUMBIAN COMMISSION. 
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE EXPOSITION. 
DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE, J. M. SAMUELS, CHIEF. | 
CuicaGo, Ill., U.S. A., 19th Jan., 1892. | 
Mr. A. W. Lauiham, Secretary Minnesota State Horticultural Soziety, Owa- 
tonna, Minn. 
DEAR Srr:—We have sent you to-day a lithograth of the official hird’s 
eye view of the grounds, a few cuts, etc., of the buildings, and some other 
information that may be of interest to the members of your society, but I 
regret to say that we are not yet in a position to send you copies of our 
pamphlet giving classification, general and special rules, etc.: but the 
questions that are delaying its issue will be settled in a few days, and we 
will then distribute the information as widely as possible. 
The interest being shown in the department is wide spread. and appli- 
cations for space are being filed by many of the most prominent firms and 
individuals in the country: and we also expect a representative exhibit 
from each state interested in horticulture, and what state is not? 
Our building is, without exception, the finest ever erected for a horti- 
cultural display, and the floor space is larger by many thousand square 
feet than the combined floor areas of the horticultural buildings at Phila- 
delphia, New Orleans and Paris; the dome is 113 feet high on the inside 
and the building is planned. in its different parts, to fit the requirements 
of the different branches included under the heading of horticulture. 
We have had assigned to the department about twenty acres on the out- 
side grounds, including all the space available for horticultural purposes 
on the wooded island, round which all the great buildings are grouped. 
and which is one of the choicest locations on the grounds. 
We are now perfecting plans for planting a large part of this area the 
coming spring, and consequently we will be very busy for the next few 
months, and it is imperative that we receive as many applications as pos- 
sible before spring, our plans depending to a certain extent on the needs 
of intending exhibitors. 
We will commence in a week or ten days toerect temporary greenhouses 
of considerable size, for bringing plants to their greatest state of perfec- 
tion before being placed on exhibition, and for storing them after their 
season of beauty has passed. 
Propagating houses and frames will be built, and large numbers of plants - 
will be grown for use on the grounds to be laid out by this department, 
and for filling out groups that may be deficient. 
As it is essential that plans for exhibits be prepared as soon as possible, 
we hope this question will be well agitated at your meeting, and that all 
members join heartily in the endeavor to make your display one of the most 
complete, and one that will be worthy of the great state of which you are 
a member. * 
Wishing you a very profitable meeting, I remain, yours respectfully, 
J. M. SAMUELS, Chief Department of Horticulture. 
