128 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The question of horticulture at the World's Fair at present is in rather 

 a chaotic state. Nobody seems to know exactly what they propose to do, 

 and I do not suppose they know themselves. I thought that this society 

 should have a desirable place and 1 thought I would get it large enough, 

 say about fifty feet square, and I think we got a place about ten feet by 

 forty feet, very small. I knew that whatever space this society received 

 would be well filled, and that it would make a display there that would 

 not only be a credit to themselves, but a credit to the country at large. 



We often hear that we have to go away from home to know how im- 

 portant we are at home, and what advantages we enjoy. I have wandered 

 through the gardens of Paris and Florence and Rome; I have seen the 

 splendors of the botanical gardens in Cairo and Constantinople; I have 

 gazed in admiration at the wonders that were displayed in the Royal Bo- 

 tanical Gardens at Berlin and St. Petersburgh, but I can say in all truth- 

 fulness that I have never seen such a magnificent display as any of you 

 may see if you choose to go down and visit the greenhouses of my friend, 

 Mr. Mendenhall. (Applause.) We are far in advance of most of the other 

 nations of the world in this great question of floriculture, and as for hor- 

 ticulture, so far as it relates to fruits— my reputation as a truth-teller is 

 fairly good in this community (laughter)— so probably you will believe me 

 when I say that last winter in St. Petersburgh I saw pears that were sell- 

 ing at seventy-five cents apiece, and apples that were worth sixty cents 

 apiece. The man who was selling them, said they were very cheap be- 

 cause the supply was very large; and I said to him, "Well, I come from a 

 country where we have some fruit, but we never put thase high prices up- 

 on them; where did these pears come from?" "Well," he said, "we have 

 bad a great deal of trouble in getting them, but they all came from Cali- 

 fornia." I suppose if I had asked him in regard to the apples, I would 

 have found out they had come from Michigan or Minnesota, for I have 

 certainly seen better apples in Minnesota than I ever did in Europe. 

 (Applause.) 



Now, lam deeply impressed by the earnest manner in which your offi- 

 cers have taken hold of this matter, and by the splendid preparation they 

 have already made in the collection of various varieties of fruit, etc., 

 which have been carefully prepared for this exhibition, a large number 

 of varieties being placed in cold storage, I am told. I am certain that 

 Minnesota will be well represented, and as creditably represented as any 

 state that will have a show at Chicago. (Applause.) I know you can 

 do it. I know you have not only the determination to succeed in this 

 matter, but you also have the means at your command. 



I can only say that although there has been at different times a little 

 doubt as to what you might be able to do among members of the com- 

 mission, at present they are heartily in accord with you, and you will find 

 that they will second your efforts in this matter as cordially as you would 

 wish them to. 



I must confess that I don't know much about this subject. When I 

 was speaking about the matter before the meeting this evening to my 

 wife, I said, " I suppose I will have to say something on this subject, 

 about the flower business in Minnesota, or something of that kind." 



"Well," she said, "that is an easy matter enough for you. You are a 

 miller and can say something about Pillsbury's Best and so on." 

 (Laughter.) 



