ANNUAL WINTER MEETING. 99 



On motion by C. L. Smith, a special committee of three was 

 ordered to be appointed by the executive committee from their 

 number to make such arrangement with the exposition auth or- 

 ities, subject to the approval of the executive committee in re- 

 gard to exhibition and premiums, as they could. The motion 

 was amended and carried making the president of the society 

 one of that committee. 



President Underwood then read a letter from Mr. G. W. 

 Fuller, written from California. 



Ontakio, Cal., Jan. 5, 1893. 



My Dear Mr. Underwood: I received your letter and the program for 

 the next meeting of the horticultural society. I am sure, from the bill 

 of fare offered, that you will have a good and profitable time. It is twenty- 

 one years ago that 1 attended the first time, and I have missed but few 

 sessions since when I have been in the state. 



The history of fruit growing in Minnesota has been a checkered one; 

 but a few years past has been somewhat more favorable, and it may be a 

 few of the Russians have come to stay. My Hibernals did exceedingly 

 well this last season, and the fruit is choice for cooking. 



The contrast between our state and this is great. The orange and 

 lemon trees are full of fruit, and it is ripe enough to begin to market it. 

 It will be gathered from now on, most of it before April. Some 1,312.000 

 pounds, or 4,600 carloads of lemons and oranges, have been shipped from 

 this state the past year, mostly from three southern counties, and yet 

 there is no end to the new plantations that are being set. And the 

 peaches, prunes, pears, olives, nuts and other varieties of tropical fruits 

 are largely cultivated. Sixty-five millions of pounds of dried fruit and 

 fifty-seven millions of pounds of raisins, to say nothing of green grapes 

 and canned fruits, were sold during the past year. And this whole trade 

 has grown up within the past twenty years; and it looks as if the ratio 

 of increase might continue indefinitely. Will the demand be equal to 

 the supply? One of the best and most fruitful of oranges was supplied 

 by the government, sent from some foreign country. It is the "navel," a 

 seedless orange. And I see now, out of my window, trees of tliis variety, 

 only six years from the setting, loaded to the ground with this rich 

 golden fruit. It is now nearly ready for marketing. 



I suppose our "banana belt" will be hardly able at present to compete 

 in growing these varieties of fruits; and yet we are able to grow what will 

 enable us to place these fruits on our tables. And I am not yet pre- 

 pared to say that I would be willing to exchange the advantages of the 

 North Star state for those of the state of the Golden Gate. 



Please give my kindly greetings to the members of the Minnesota Hor- 

 ticultural Society, with the earnest and hearty wish that the society may 

 be increasingly useful in developing fruits that can be successfully and 

 profitably grown in Minnesota. 



Very respectfully yours, 



Geo. W. Fuller. 



Mr. C. L. Smith moved that the secretary be instructed to 

 return to Mr. E. Wilcox many thanks for his photograph and 

 the work he has done in the past for the society and the cause 

 of horticulture, together with many kind wishes for his future. 



Motion was seconded by Col. J. H. Stevens, and unanimously 

 carried. 



On motion the society then proceeded to the annual election 

 of ofi&cers. On motion of Col. J. H Stevens, unanimously car- 



