28 ANNUAL REPORT. 



On Flowers. — A. W. Sias, Rochester; M. Pearce, Minneapolis, an(} 

 Col. J. H. Stevens, Minneapolis. 



On Vegetables. — Wyman Elliot, Minneapolis; H. H. Young, St. 

 Paul, and G. W. Fuller, Litchfield. 



On Resolutions. — J. S Harris, La Crescent; G. W. Fuller, Litchfield, 

 and J. T. Grimes, Minneapolis. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME AND RESPONSE, 



Col. John H. Stevens, in the absence of Prof. Porter of the State 

 University Farm, delivered the Address of Welcome. 



Col. Stevens said: Mr. President and Gentlemen : It has been my 

 pleasure to extend a welcome to the members of the State Horticultur- 

 al Societ3^ to Minneapolis, nearly a score of times in the past and I re- 

 gret that Prof. Porter is not present to attend to that part of the pro- 

 gram and to discharge the duty assigned to him. I can only say, how- 

 ever, on behalf of the citizens of Minneapolis, that we most cordially 

 welcome you here. You are engaged in a work that we all should and 

 all do take a deep interest in; there is hardly a more inviting field for 

 labor and usefulness than that of horticulture, and I hope and trust 

 that in your deliberations you may accomplish that which will be for 

 the good of the State, and that your efforts will be crowned with suc- 

 cess. There is no doubt that the grand cause of horticulture in this 

 State has been forwarded at least ten or fifteen years by your societ y 

 beyond what it would have been without that assistance. Again bid- 

 ing you welcome here we trust that your meeting will be attended 

 with that interest which will give encouragement and success to your 

 noble work in which you are engaged. 



The response to the address of welcome was delivered by President 

 Smith. 



President Smith. I see they have me down for a speech, but I am 

 unprepared. However I will say a few words. The peof)le of Minne- 

 sota who, like Col. Stevens and myself, can look back to a period 

 thirty or thirty-five years ago and view the progress made during that 

 time within what is now the city of Minneapolis, may be gratified at 

 the progress made in a material way, and when they think of the con- 

 dition of things then and contrast them with those of today, they will 

 see there has been plenty of work for the State Horticultural Society 

 as well as other societies and institutions. When \ first came on this 

 side of the Falls of St. Anthony to the site of what is Jiow Minneapo- 

 lis, there was but one little log house standing away down here, [point- 



