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ANNUAL REPORT. 



Mr. Smith. I was very much interested in the report of this Minne. 

 sota Valley Society; and inasmuch as it may encourage the members 

 of this Society to do what they can in aid of local societies, I will tell 

 you why. I went out to attend a farmer's institute in Chippewa 

 County two years ago, and I met Mr. Shannon of Granite Falls, and I 

 gave him a report of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. After 

 he had read it one evening he said he wanted a membership in the 

 Society, and paid me one dollar and I gave him what back reports I 

 had. About two weeks afterwards I got a letter asking me to write 

 back, giving the form of a constitution; I did so, but in two or three 

 weeks more he said it was no use, the people would not take any inter- 

 est; but he kept talking it up, and last winter he attended our state 

 meeting, and he said they were going to have a county society. That 

 man was working over a year before seemingly accomplishing any- 

 thing. Now, he has gone away from there, but here is a society of 

 more than sixty members. These reports ought to be in the hands of 

 farmers as far as this Society is able to put them. I simply throw out 

 this suggestion for you to think about. This splendid showing in Yel- 

 low Medicine and Chippewa Counties is the result of good seed sown 

 years ago. 



The motion of Mr. Harris was then adopted. 



Mr. Saunders. I didn't anticipate any such result, but allow me to 

 present to the Society the congratulations and the thanks of the 

 Minnesota Valley Horticultural Society for the very favorable notice 

 this Society has taken of our society in that section, and as delegates 

 from that society we will guarantee to do our best in distributing 

 these reports where they will do the most good. 



I wish to make one additional statement to show the interest that 

 is being taken. Last Saturday, when I was waiting at the depot to 

 come down here, I was- talking with some of our citizens, and there 

 was one gentleman asked me, "Why didn't you carry your meeting 

 into the next day: you didn't get through; the papers were not half 

 discussed?" We told him we had only made arrangements for one 

 day, and couldn't very well exceed that. Another gentleman said, 

 "The next meeting you must make two days; with the interest that 

 was manifested, you will not be warranted in giving less than two 

 days." You may think we feel a little pride in this matter; but I 

 think it is a proper refinement of pride. We don't claim the honor 

 for ourselves, but we believe that we are working in a good cause, and 

 one that will redound to the good of the people, not only in a financial 



