256 ANNUAL REPORT. 



MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, 



The executive committee met at the office of the Secretary of 

 State, in the capitol building at Sc. Paul, on Saturday, February 

 23rd, at three o'clock p. m. There were present President Truman 

 M. Smith, of St. Paul; Treasurer J. T. Grimes, of Minneap- 

 olis; J, M. Underwood of Lake City; J. S. Harris, of La Crescent; 

 and the Secretary. 



PRIZES FOR NEW SEEDLING APPLES. 



The society's long considered scheme of prizes for the propa2:a- 

 tion of a long keeping winter apple was taken up, perfected and 

 adopted as follows: 



1st. The seed is to be planted and the tree grown in Minnesota, 



2d. It must be as hardy as the Duchess of Oldenburg, and as 

 much hardier as we can get it. 



3d. It must be as productive as the Wealthy, and the fruit 

 equal to the Wealthy in size and quality. 



4th. The apple must keep as well as the Willow Twig. 



5th. To encourage fruit growers to make the effort to produce 

 it, a graded system of premiums is offered as follows, payable yearly 

 for ten years to the three sorts that come nearest to the standard, 

 entirely seperate from and in addition to the final award of $1,000. 



For the first five years, payable annually — 1st best, $10.00; 2d 

 best, $6.00; 3rd best, $4.00, and the 5th year, in addition to the 

 foregoing, the following to the variety winning the highest cash 

 aggregate of the premiums of the five years, $25.00; 2nd highest 

 aggregate, $15.00; 3rd highest aggregate $10.00. 



