120 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



decide, and that to the greater furtherance of this picture of beauty we 

 courteously invite ihe horticultural societies of every state in the union to 

 send us their bravest and best roses of every form, variety and color to 

 successfully compete for honorable prizes given by this society. Our be- 

 ginning may be modest enough, but it will be quickly taken up by sister 

 states, and thus Minnesota would stand first in line and claim the honor 

 of organizing and instituting the first national rose show of America. 

 For the greater success of that notable event, let me offer the first prize of 

 a silver cup, garlanded and engraved with roses, to be given to the most 

 successful grower of my favorite of the garden — the crested moss rose! 



And I warn you, gentlemen, that the gardens of Villa Rosa may be a 

 competitor for that very cup. 



At the conclusion of Mrs. Morrison's paper, Mr. J. S. Har- 

 ris stepped forward and responded as follows : 



Mr Harris: Allow me to extend the thanks of the Minne- 

 sota State Horticultural Society to you for the kind and cheering 

 words we have heard from your lips to-night. (Applause. ) You 

 have touched upon a scene which comes home to us all this 

 evening, and we expect and hope to see that bud open and the 

 Minnesota State Horticultural Society have a home worthy of 

 the horticulture of this great central Northwest. I hope that 

 the seed is sown, that the plant has sprouted, that the bud is 

 here to-night and that it is opening, and that very soon we will 

 have that hall which will hold our library and the portraits of 

 those venerable men who have spent the best part of their lives 

 here on the prairies, in the ravines and barren places of Minne- 

 sota, trying to develop her horticulture. May God hasten the 

 the time when that day shall come, and then, my brothers and 

 friends, your servant can depart in peace. (Applause. ) 



Mr. C. L. Smith: I move that the Minnesota State Horticul- 

 tural Society adopt the resolution offered by this new and ex- 

 ceedingly active member of our organization, by a rising vote. 



The motion was unanimously carried. 



Mr. Smith then pledged the earnest efforts of the members 

 of the society to make the proposed national rose fete a suc- 

 cess. 



President Underwood followed, with a short talk upon the 

 same subject, suggesting that a committee be appointed, or 

 that it be referred to the executive committee; and Mr. Smith 

 moved that it be referred to the executive commiitee. 



Secretary Latham suggested that the executive committee 

 was a rather large body to handle such a matter, but thought 

 perhaps it might be left with the committee, with the authority 

 to appoint a committee of three to see in what way it was pos- 

 sible for the society to carry out the suggestion. Mr. Smith 



