ANNUAL WINTER MEETING. 79 



Babylon with its hanging gardens. I will promise you in that case, that 

 while your men will be turning the wheels of industry in other vocations 

 all day, that at evening time they will go home contented men, satisfied 

 with their wages, saying, "What more do we need for a happy home?" 

 Applause.) 



President J. M. Underwood then delivered the president's 

 annual address as follows : 



Ladies and gentlemen^ members of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society: 



Twelve long months have swiftly passed since our annual meeting in 

 Owatonna, and my message to you is one of good cheer. I congratulate 

 you on the prosperity that has attended all the past year, and I trust that 

 not one of our number has failed to share in the bountiful harvest that 

 Minnesota, as a whole, has enjoyed. Not only have the farmers been 

 blessed with abundant crops and remunerative herds and flocks, but the 

 artisan, the day laborer, and the kitchen servant, as well as all the varied 

 interests of the town have, as a natural consequence, received a benefit. 



As horticulturists, I think we are fully up with the procession. It took 

 a good deal of scoring before we got a start, as is always the case when 

 there are large interests involved, but the first quarter is past, and we 

 have a good start on the second. Although the horse interests, led by 

 the wonderful Nancy Hanks, may seem to have the advantage, lightning 

 is playing sad havoc and has already knocked out the horses on the street 

 cars and, as long as Edison lives, their whole fabric is in danger. From 

 the hog and cattle interests, we have nothing to fear. Self preservation 

 is fast causing people to turn from sausage, roast beef and grease to 

 wholesome vegetables and delicious fruits. The doctors are experiencing 

 a change of heart and, instead of beef tea, they give bean soup; instead of 

 aggravating the stomach with roast meats, they soothe it with a raspberry 

 shortcake, cream and sugar to suit the taste, and so, before the echoes of 

 Christmas chimes and New Year greetings have died away, I wish you, 

 one and all, an exceedingly happy new year. 



KETROSPECTIVE. 



Most fortunate, indeed, it is for us that the rest and quiet of winter Is 

 upon us, allowing us time to take our bearings and study our course. If 

 the rapid pace of the summer months were kept up, we would sink ex- 

 hausted or encounter breakers that would swamp our craft. I am told 

 that in the south, where the battle of life is continually waging, they be- 

 come indifferent, and cease to exert themselves at any time, although 

 necessity demands vigorous application to business. A friend of mine 

 visiting in southern California last spring found their houses and places 

 of business cold and uncomfortaljle, except through a few hours in the 

 middle of the day, when the mercury would rise to over ninety in the 

 shade. Having occasion to patronize a barber shop in the morning, he 

 was obliged to keep on his warm wraps, and the barber wore an overcoat 

 and cap while shaving him. No stoves, and if they had them fuel was 

 too dear to use, so they wait for the sun to warm them up. 



In Minnesota, *ve do not wait for anything. In the winter we enjoy 

 ourselves in our warm, comfortable houses, and in the summer, with re- 

 newed vigor; and accumulated energy we push the work we have 

 planned. The winter of 1892 was, in some respects peculiar, it having 



