40 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



crowded out and driven away from the homes they have known for so 

 many summers, and the places they have cheered with their delicious 

 music shall know them no more. 



Toast: "Our Fruit Garden, — Better than beef or beans." Re- 

 sponse by Mrs.. A. A. Kennedy, of Hutchinson. 



When I read the note from our worthy secretary informing me that I 

 would he expected to respond to this toast, I thought of our committee 

 on arrangements as Paul said to the Romans, that they had "a zeal but not 

 according to knowledge," and I wondered much that they should choose a 

 crooked stick when they had such magnificent timber at their command. 

 I have made and served a great many dishes of toast, but this is the 

 first of this kind, I think. 



When our Heavenly Father planned and brought into existence this 

 world of ours the department of horticulture received his most careful 

 consideration. Outside of the gift of his Son, fruit was his greatest gift 

 to man, and I thank God, for granting me this privilege of lending a hand 

 to help roll their car of salvation— I was going to say,and I think I will not 

 change it, for, is not everything that pertains to the elevation, refine- 

 ment and true enjoyment of the human family salvation? I think so. 

 When the Great God created this world he cast his eye over the work of 

 his hands and pronounced it very good, and then the very first thing he 

 did was to make a garden, and he did not plant it to beans, nor fill it with 

 herds of cattle, but planted it to fruit, as much as to say that this was the 

 only diet fit for man in his purity. Beef and beans were an after-thought, 

 and came in after the curse was pronounced. This is conclusive evidence 

 that fruit is in the ascendancy. But let us look at it from another stand- 

 point. In order to make 1,200 pounds of beef, it would take four acres of land 

 to produce hay and pasturage, and one-third of an acre of corn, "allowing 30 

 bushels per acre; and at four cents per pound, live weight, it would only 

 come to $48.00. So it would take at the least four and one-third acres 

 of land to make $48.00 worth of beef, and this is saying nothing of the 

 care the first summer or the milk it would consume. 



The outside figures for a crop of beans is 30 bushels per acre, at $2. 00 per 

 bushels, would be $60.00 per acre, while fruit with the same amount of 

 sultlvation will produce 2,000 quarts of berries, ( I raised that many quarts 

 from three-quarters of an acre last year) which at 10 cents a quart would 

 bring $200.00:and there are those that do better still. Now,who that wishes 

 to amass a fortune would think for one brief moment of raising beef or 

 beans? Thus far I have said nothing in regard to the enjoyment we get. 

 If any one would ask me how much enjoyment 1 get from my garden, I 

 should have to answer as the little girl did when her mamma asked her 

 how much she loved her. 



Toast: "Our Beautiful Wild Flowers, -Fast disappearing be- 

 fore the onward march of civilization." Response by Miss Sara 

 M. Manning of Lake City. 



Once as fell the evening twlight. 

 And the glowing tints of sunset 

 Linger'd in the western heaven, 

 Suddenly was sound of music 



