STATE H01tTICULTURA.L SOCIETY. 169 



cal Society, and for his faithful representation of this Society and 

 the State at said meeting. 



After remarks by several members, the resolution was unanimous- 

 ly adopted. 



Col, Stevens. I move also that the thanks of the State Hor- 

 ticultural Society be tendered to the several gentlemen who 

 contributed fruit for exhibition at the recent meeting of the 

 American Pomological Society, by which contributions the So- 

 ciety was awarded the highest premium for fruits bv the said 

 American Pomological Society. 



This motion was also unanimously adopted. 



Secretary Gribbs. Now, Mr. President and fellow members, 

 I have a resolution to offer in relation to this medal. It was firstly 

 the gift of President Wilder to the American Pomological Society. 

 He authorized its committee to award sixteen silver medals to be 

 furnished and engraved at his expense. The committee thought 

 best to divide the exhibits of all fruits into four groups, and award 

 only one medal on each. To us came the award on apples 

 primarily, but including our grapes, as ours was the second best, 

 display in this department. How much you and the State are in- 

 debted to this noble pomologist for the medal is not expressed in 

 the facts here given — hardly a hint of it. It was to his encourage- 

 ment given to your Secretary, perhaps to others of our membership 

 by many letters — his letters to the Governor of our State, and I 

 know not to whom else — his determination that Minnesota should 

 be represented at Philadelphia, none the less all other States — his 

 large-heartedness and broad views that unselfishly took in the 

 whole continent, all that was American, under whatever flag; 

 that would have been cosuiopolitan and embraced the fruits 

 of the people of all nations, had the society given this 

 scope — his zeal that would not tire, however those he sought to help 

 might be inclined to falter in their own cause; — it was this that put 

 Minnesota into the meeting with her fruits. I cannot tell you all 

 the steps and details of his influence. I only know that without 

 it we should never have had a bushel of fruit at that exhibition; 

 and Minnesota would have been regarded to-day as she was in pub- 

 lic estimation six months ago, as a country where you can raise 

 wheat, but not apples, and this medal would have been at 

 this time the subject of a pow-wow in a state a good many degrees 

 further south and west— a state which may dispute our claim 

 to a similar award in 1885, but by fair and generous rivalry. I 

 move, therefore, that the thanks of this society be conveyed to 



