ANNUAL WINTER MEETING. 83 



This leads me to recur to the subject of a home. Several times I have 

 urged it upon our society to get a home. There is not a "tvpo-for-a-cent" 

 society in the state but what has a home. "Ists," "isms" and fraternities 

 of all kinds are no sooner born than they have a home, and here we are 

 twenty -six years old and without a home. The necessities for one are in- 

 creasing every day. Our membership is increasing and our secretary 

 needs better facilities for doing the work. We should ,pay him a better 

 salary and keep him at work all the time. It would be money in our 

 pockets in increased membership and would give us an atmosphere of 

 comfort that no one without a home can feel. A handbook of horticul- 

 ture should be published, embodying the best that can be gleaned from 

 our society reports and elsewhere, put ih a. condensed form, something 

 like the valuable reports sent out by Prof. Green of the experi- 

 ment station. It should be well bound and sold for the benefit of our 

 society. The work should be done under the direction and supervision of 

 our secretary and could be made to pay a revenue to the society. 



FORESTRY . 



I have intimated that one of the obstacles we have to overcome in hor- 

 ticulture is a lack of moisture, and I believe that this is going to be 

 largely ameliorated by the work that is being accomplished by our state 

 forestry association. The zeal and tenacity exhibited by its officers are 

 good examples that younger men might well follow and can only be ac- 

 counted for by the importance of the subject, which long years of experi-' 

 ence have impressed upon their minds. While they may, they raise their 

 warning voice and plead for the preservation of our forests and the 

 setting aside of large tracts of country, not available for agriculture, 

 as preserves for the growing of forests. Well may every farmer in Minne- 

 sota and the Dakotas supplement the work done by the forestry associa- 

 tion by planting forests and shelter belts around their farms. 



C0LU3IBIAN EXHIBIT. 



Naturally enough we are all on the qui vive for the wonders that will 

 be unfolded to us at the World's Fair. The Commissioners for Minnesota 

 were handicapped by a lack of proper legislation. They were, after much 

 delay, enabled to make the appointment of Supt. of Horticulture, and 

 our interests are now well in hand. 



I have thus far said nothing of the interests of our l)ee-men and flor- 

 ists. When a boy, my little cousin always ate his pie at dinner the first 

 thing for fear he would be so full, if he ate his dinner first, that he could 

 not enjoy his pie. Well, I never get so full of vegetables and fruit that-I 

 cannot enjoy some honey and revel in the beauty and fragrance of flowers. 

 Minnesota has occasion to be proud of the way in which these interests 

 are cared for. Progress and success are perched upon the banner of the 

 bee-keeper, led by Messrs. West, Taylor, and Theilmann. One advantage 

 their labors possess over others is that if they ever slacken their efforts 

 the bees can easily stir them up and stimulate them to renew their 

 energies. I am told that 300 tons of honey is a low estimate of the pro- 

 duction for 1892. 



The florist's interests in the state are doing splendidly. A taste for 

 the beautiful is pervading the atmosphere of the rural home, as well as of 

 that of the city. Large greenhouses, amounting to many acres of glass, 

 are erected throughout the state and the business for the year amounts 

 to about $400,000.00. 



