aD LYONS eee 
92 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
presiding over you, and I wish to thank you for your indul- 
gence. I now introduce to you your president, Mr. J. M. Un- 
derwood, of Lake City. (Applause. ) 
President Underwood: Ithink if I have reputation for any- 
thing, it is as a worker rather than a speaker. You will know 
better a year from now how you will like me as a presiding 
officer. I think I may count on your assistance, and without 
any further remarks, we will proceed with the program. 
Mr. Wilcox: I move that we extend the thanks of this so- 
ciety to Vice-President Wedge for the ability with which he 
has conducted the deliberations of the society. 
The motion was seconded and carried by a rising vote. 
President Underwood: The society will now give its atten- 
tion to the reading of a paper by Mr. Cutler. 
The following paper was then read, ‘‘Lights and Shadows 
of Horticulture,” by M. Cutler, Sumter. 
LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF HORTICULTURE. 
M. CUTLER, SUMTER. 
Ladies and Gentlemen: 
I will begin with the shadows, not shadows general but shadows spe- 
cial, as applied to Minnesota horticulture. When the first settlers came 
here from their eastern homes, their hopes and desires were to surround 
themselves with fruits and flowers, and as they beheld the rich virgin soil 
of these boundless prairies and extensive forests, and saw such fine wild 
flowers, wild grapes, and occasional patches of wild raspberries, goose- 
berries, and blackberries, their hearts were filled with hope, ‘‘ that best 
boon to mortals given.” Scarcely was the virgin soil uprooted ere the 
apple seed and tree were planted. The eastern tree agent, ever on the 
outlook for new fields to conquer, heard of this goodly land and hastened 
to it, where he found the people only too willing to listen to his requests 
for orders. Quite extensive orchards were set out, several mild seasons 
followed, and the trees and seeds sown made a good growth. Itseemed 
as though fond hopes would soon be realized. We began to hear reports 
of farmers bringing apples to market by the wagon load. When suddenly 
a dark shadow appeared on the horizon. Old Boreas bore down with a 
heavy hand, so heavy that ordinary thermometers could not tell the weight 
thereof. 
Reports of blight, disease and death in our orchards began to be re- - 
ceived and continued to come until fond hopes were crushed, and a great 
shadow had fallen o’er our land. Again the festive tree agent appeared 
on the scene, claiming that rdvt-grafting was the principal cause of this 
great shadow, and if the confiding populace would only buy their budded 
trees, apples, and even prunes and peaches could be grown in abundance. 
Hope again beamed from the countenance of many a poor ruralist, to be 
followed by another shadow, for Albaugh’s great budded trees soon gave 
up the ghost and were food for the flames, while the author of the swin- 
dling scheme was made the idol of the tree dealers’ craft. We have 
