240 ANNUAL REPORT. 



The motion was adopted. 



Prof. Porter was then called upon to give a description of the 

 exhibit at New Orleans. 



Prof. Porter then addressed the meeting at some length, giving 

 a description of the New Orleans Exposition, and especially of 

 the Minnesota exhibit. A vote of thanks was tendered him, and 

 he was requested to furnish an article upon this subject for pub- 

 lication. 



The report of the Finance Committee was then called for. The 

 following is the report: 



Mr. Elliot, from the committee on finance, presented the fol- 

 lowing report: The finance committee would respectfully report 

 the following: That we have examined the accounts and vouch- 

 ers of the treasurer, and find the same correct. We have ex- 

 amined the reports of the secretary, and, as far as we are able to 

 determine, the same is correct. "We find a greater expenditure 

 of money than the fnnds of the society will warrant. We fully 

 indorse the suggestions made in the treasurer's report, and rec- 

 ommend that the expenses in the secreta.iy's office be materially 

 curtailed. Respectfully submitted. 



Wyman Elliot, Chairman. 



On motion of Mr. Whipple the report was accepted and 

 adopted. 



QUESTION BOX. 



The Question Box was called for, and Mr. Smith read the fol- 

 lowing question: Are summer meetings of the Minnesota State 

 Horticultural Society a failure? 



Prof. Porter. No, sir; they are not. I would rather have one 

 summer meeting than half a dozen winter meetings, conducted 

 as our meeting was two years ago, and as we intended our meet- 

 ing should be conducted last year, but it failed. We should de- 

 vote about half of the time in a visit to the vineyards and in 

 experimental work. I tell you that we will learn more by seeing 

 the actual work of the men who come here and tell us how they 

 do it than we will learn in ten times that amount of time by hear- 

 ing them talk about it. I would rather have one hour in a man's 

 garden than to hear him talk ten hours. That is my reply to 

 the question. 



Mr, Smith. I have a proposition for three summer meetings; 



