STATE HOBTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 139 



early in the session so that we can have ample time to attend to the matter. As 

 most of you are aware, the decision of the attorney general in regard to our reserve 

 fund and the setting aside of money to meet the premiums offered by the executive 

 committee of this Society, in accordance with resolutions and instructions of this 

 Society, and as printed in our Report for A. D. 1884, pasres 256 and 257, and which 

 all thought were in strict compliance with the law meeting our appropriation. But 

 the attorney general differed with us in regard to our rights under the law, con- 

 sequently we must bow to the power in authority. But thanks to the kindness 

 and courtesy of stale auditor Braden, after the matter was fully explained to him, 

 I think has so arranged matters that we can easily work our way out without 

 further difficulty. The auditor informs me there is now standing to the credit of 

 the Minnesota State Horticultural Society the sum of one hundred dollars on ap- 

 propriation for 1885, and one thousand dollars on appropriation for 1886, and 

 available when needed to pay premiums and necessary expenses of the Society. 

 But, as I understand them, we must in order to draw this amount first use up our 

 reserve fund drawn from the State, and now in hands of our treasurer. And in 

 order to do this, it will require some action l)y this Society to authorize the execu- 

 tive committee to so expend this fund. Then as I understand the matter, instead 

 of having our reserve fund drawing interest in the hands of our treasurer, we will 

 be obliged to keep the amount on band in the office of State Treasurer without 

 interest, the auditor having consented to carry the amount over to our credit instead 

 of carrying it back into the treasury as unexpended balance, as is customary in 

 such cases, and in that case we would only lose the interest now received on our 

 reserve fund. I believe the affairs and finances of our Society have been prudently 

 and as economically managed in the past year, as the welfare of the Society would 

 permit. 



Our last legislature failing to pass the appropriation to enable us to make a display 

 and be represented officially at the last meeting of the American Pomological Soci- 

 ety, held at Grand Rapids, Michigan, in September last, left us without representa- 

 tion in that honorable and useful body, with the exception of Hon. Peter M. Gideon, 

 of the State Experimental Farm at Minnetenka, who, I understand, attended and 

 from whom I hope to hear a report of their proceedings; and I hope at j_the next 

 meeting of said society that we ma}'^ be able to make a general displa}'^ and gain some 

 fine prizes for Minnesota and our Society. I would recommend the election, at 

 this meeting of a legislative committee of five of our best and most influential mem- 

 bers to attend to such legislation as may come up in our next legislature for the 

 benefit of this Society, among which should be the provision for a State Entomolo- 

 gist and the erection at State fair grounds of suitable buildings for the purposes of 

 exhibition of all horticultural products. Now if the State Board of Agriculture 

 wishes and expects the Minnesota State Horticultural Society and its memoers to 

 take an active part and help to make the State Fair the success it should and could 

 be made, inasmuch as they receive all the gate money and State appropriation for 

 premiums, they should be requested to and should set apart for the use and bene- 

 fit of our Society, to be under the entire and exclusive control of the executive 

 committee of this Society, a sufficient sum to enable them to offer liberal premiums 

 on all horticultural products, and they should have them and the making of premium 

 lists and awarding of premiums thereon under their exclusive charge; and such 



