32 ANNUAL REPORT. 



of the society in the matter. He advocated the pickling or pre- 

 serving of early small fruits and the duplicating of all exhibits. 



Prof. Porter gave some suggestions for the preparation of spec- 

 imens, advising fruit growers to clean certain limbs of apple 

 trees from insect depredations, and wraj) specimens for exhibi- 

 tion with tissue paper. He advised the girdling of grape vines, 

 or branches bearing the fruit to be exhibited, by means of which 

 a larger and much better growth might be secured. For goose- 

 berries and some other small fruits he recommended the English 

 plan of setting a saucer of water underneath. 



Mr. Elliot gave some suggestions as to the boxing and shipping 

 of fruits, advising the use of parafine paper for wrapping, and 

 very earful boxing and handling. 



Secretary Gibbs deprecated the usual carelessness of exper- 

 ienced horticulturists in the shipment of fruit, and said he did 

 not know what might be expected from the average farmer. 



Mr. Sias, from the committee on the exhibition of fruits, etc., 

 to be made by the Hennepin County Horticultural Society, re- 

 ported favorably upon the proposition and the report was adopted. 



Secretary Gibbs called attention to the law requiring local hor- 

 ticultural societies to make annual reports, the same to be incor- 

 j)orated in the transactions of the society, and stated that he had 

 never received such reports from secretaries of such organizations. 



Secretary Gibbs moved that a vote of thanks be returned to 

 the people of Minneapolis, to local committees on entertainment, 

 for hospitality, and to the railroads for reduced rates of trans- 

 portation. The motion was adopted. 



A gentleman asked the question whether the variety of apple 

 trees known in New York as ''Iron Clads " were not grown as 

 well in Minnesota, when transplanted, as the native trees. 



Mr. Gideon gave it as his opinion that the trees would succeed 

 equally well in Minnesota, with proper attention and in favored 

 localities. 



Col. D. A. Robertson expressed- the opinion that growth de- 

 pended upon climatic influences almost exclusively. It is warmer 

 in Minnesota in summer than in Philadelphia, but the winters 

 are more rigorous here than there, and the only robust trees in 

 Minnesota are raised from the seed. Those coming from remote 

 districts are invariably subjected to great dangers in change of 

 location from their native soil, and he had no confidence in east- 

 ern trees when transplanted to Minnesota. 



On motion the meeting then adjourned subject to the call of 

 the executive committee. 



