STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIET"^. " 97 



The year has been a fruitful one. Large crops of strawberries, 

 red raspberries, gooseberries, and currants well repaid the labor 

 that produced them. Apple trees were also well loaded. 



G. W. Fuller. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Sias. I would say that the interest seems to be on the in- 

 crease in Olmsted County so far as our local society is concerned. 

 We now have a greater membership than ever before; I think 

 our report says there are fifty members, but I think it is over 

 that; some fifty-four or five I think it is. That is a pretty good 

 showing for our county. I believe the society only had ten or 

 twelve members the first year, and not over twelve the second. 

 I suppose we are perhaps raising more fruit in our county than 

 in any other county in the State, unless it may be the county of 

 Wabasha. We think we have the largest orchard in the vicinity 

 of Eoch ester that you will find anywhere in the State, an orchard 

 that produced about 1,500 bushels of apples last year, and about 

 1,000 bushels of the Wealthy. I don't see any reason for our 

 being discouraged in regard to fruit culture. I do not wish to 

 take up the time further at present. 



Mr. Harris. I don't know as it is necessary to make any 

 motion in reference to these reports appearing in our report, 

 as I presume they will be embodied in our transactions. There 

 were some matters omitted last year. 



President Smith. I suppose all these reports should appear; 

 if they have been overlooked in the past it is proper they should 

 appear in future. 



Mr. Harris. The members of these local societies are entitled 

 to copies of our transactions. I would state that there is no part 

 of our State that is more promising in horticulture than Olmsted 

 County. It was the birthplace of this society. I don't believe 

 there was another county in the State at the time that could 

 have given the poor little weak thing a birth; but it did it. And 

 it has lived, although it pined along for a number of years. I 

 predict for Olmsted County (unless the climate changes) one of 

 the strongest horticultural societies in the State of Minnesota. I 

 think they will wake up even Hennepin, which is holding weekly 

 meetings, and they may well look to their laurels. I would sug- 

 gest that their report for last year be published so that the world 

 may see the progress made in a single year. 

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