88 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



should be some important changes made in the premium list. A larger 

 number of premiums offered for collections would encourage more of the 

 smaller growers to incur the expense and trouble of making an exhibit 

 with a reasonable prospect of being remunerated. With only two prem- 

 iums for collection there is no encouragement for competition as it is well 

 known who in each class will secure the premiums. A re-arrangement 

 should be made that will bring new forces to the front. In one state, 

 Nebraska, I think, the agricultural society allows the horticultural 

 society $1,000 for premiums at the state fair and leaves the arrangement 

 of premiums with them. We should seek further recognition in this 

 direction, and by proper management can easily make an exhibit of the 

 various horticultural products that will tax the resources of horticultural 

 hall. 



AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Wyman Elliot and myself were appointed by the executive com- 

 mittee delegates to the meeting of the American Horticultural Society, 

 held in Chicago, Sept. last. In the point of numbers this was not a large 

 meeting, but those in attendance in the main were the enthusiastic and 

 practical workers in the extensive field which the scope of the society 

 covers, and the report when published will be one of the most valuable 

 additions to our horticultural literature. 



It will not behest for me to take up your valuable time in describing 

 minutely this interesting meeting, and, instead, I refer you to their forth- 

 coming report. A pleasant feature of the three days' session was the 

 courtesy extended to the society by the World's Fair management, in car- 

 rying us to and through the grounds and buildings of the exposition and, 

 especially, the horticultural buildings, where at that time were already 

 collected large numbers of beautiful and extraordinary specimens of trop- 

 ical plants. 



The American Horticultural Society is evidently not in official 

 touch with the state horticultural societies, a position which it 

 would seem natural and reasonable for it to occupy. As far as I had op- 

 portunity to learn, we were the only regularly appointed delegates from a 

 state society in attendance. That society is much crippled by lack of 

 means to publish its exceedingly valuable report, which has not been done 

 now for several years. Contributions were solicited to accomplish this 

 purpose and a number of the members present pledged $10.00 apiece. 

 The unfriendly relations existing between demand and supply in my 

 finances, interfered with my assisting in this direction any farther than 

 the annual fee of $2.00 as a member of the society, and, unfortunately) 

 for the credit of our society Mr. Elliot did not happen to be present at 

 that meeting; but I offered to bring the matter to the attention of 

 this society, with the belief that we should be willing to assist in the 

 publication of these reports. An additional interest would be created 

 in this society by making it a center of relationship with local and 

 state societies, and combining with the present useful work a discussion 

 of questions relating to the welfare of the societies at large throughout 

 the country. 



REVIEW OF THE FRUIT CROP. 



Minnesota has reason to congratulate itself on the comparatively excel- 

 lent crop of fruit ripened the past season. 



The small fruit crop was generally good and proved satisfactory. Even 

 the grape crop, though three weeks late, by reason of unusually warm 



