82 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



around Excelsior. We are learning new and better ways of doing things, 

 and here in our society is the place to bring them out and make them 

 known to all. New varieties, adapted to our climate, are what we ought 

 to encourage. We are particularly in need of a hardy, late-keeping apple. 

 It can be produced by planting seeds, and I recommend that our society 

 offer a reward of one thousand dollars to any one who will furnish an 

 apple as hardy and good as the Duchess, that will keep easily in barrels 

 in an ordinary cellar until the first of March. There is not one of us but 

 would be willing to contribute liberally to the premium, and if the 

 offer is made we will, in all probability, have it to pay. The tree may al- 

 ready be grgwn, or the seed from which it is to come may be in the fruit 

 that is upon our tables. It is not necessary to be a professional to pro. 

 duce it. Any one can plant seeds. 



This fall a young man in our employ called my attention to a tree that 

 he had nursed from a seed. Eleven years ago this fall his father brought 

 home from town some nice, large, red apples. The boy ate one of them and 

 saved the seeds and planted them in a box. He got one tree.T^e father died, 

 and, in his memory, he has cared for that tree, which is now producing 

 large crops of beautiful apples. Cannot we encourage more of such work? 

 The Iowa State Horticultural Society has bought seeds and distributed 

 among its trial stations to be cared for. Cannot we do the same? Adap- 

 tation to circumstances is a law of nature. Everything else in Minnesota 

 becomes hardy and adapted to the climate. Why should not fruit trees? 



Our experimental stations are now under the d irection of our central sta- 

 tion, presided over by Prof. Green, and are sure to bring forth good re- 

 sults. It is our duty to supplement their efforts in every way that we 

 can. Organized, intelligent application on their part is sure to bring to 

 the state invaluable results and reflect much credit on our society that 

 has caused them to be established. 



INSTITUTE WORK. 



There has never been any means of education introduced that has re- 

 turned so large and good results for the money as the farmers' institute 

 managed by Prof. O. C. Gregg. He has called to his aid a valuable corps 

 of assistants. They have straightened many a crooked path and smoothed 

 many a thorny way all over the state, while Prof. Gregg has shown them 

 how to furnish the cream. Our venerable coadjutor, William Som- 

 ville, has carried the gospel of success in horticulture to the listening 

 crowds and demonstrated how to grow the berries. What more is needed? 

 Only this: it requires "Line upon line and precept upon precept." It is 

 our part in this society to gather them into our fold and give them the 

 benefit of our discussions and experience. Every farmer, market gardener 

 and florist in the state should become a member of our society and read 

 our reports, if he can not attend our meetings. I think this should be 

 one of the features of the institute work, to acquire* membership to our 

 society and distribute our transactions. Another plan I would suggest 

 for acquiring membership is to have our secretary offer premiums of plants 

 and vines to all members of our society for 1893— such premiums to be 

 furnished gratuitously by the gardeners, florists and nurserymen of our 

 state. It is a plan I cannot take the time to elaborate here, but is one 

 that has been under advisement the past year and I am confident can be 

 carried out with profit to our society and credit to all who participate. 



