liO ANNUAL REPORT. 



premium lists should be made out in time to be printed in our reports as early in the 

 season as possible, so that all could see what premiums they could compete for. I 

 think tlie executive committee, composed of liorticulturists, would be more capable 

 of getting up a premium list suited to our wants, and one that would bring out a 

 larger and better exhibit for the same amount of money, than by the course now 

 adopted by the Board of Agriculture, and one that would give much better satis- 

 faction to all concerned. In order to make our exhibits and Society a success, the 

 premiums should be offered principally on single plates of fruit and single speci- 

 mens of plants, or for best three or six plants of a kind, for best peck, one-half peck 

 or dozen or one-half dozen of vegetables, and first, second, third and fourth premi- 

 ums offered on all leading desirable varieties, and then a reasonable amount on a 

 few sweepstake premiums. In offering on single plates and specimens instead of 

 largest display, you will give all an equal chance to compete for all premiums, and 

 in that way I think, bring out the choicest specimens from all otir growers, and get 

 up a display of real merit and worthy of the premiums offered. When the premi- 

 ums are for best or largest display there is only a few of the largest growers, or 

 those who can obtain from others what they lack to make up an assortment, that 

 will exhibit at all, and is it not much better to have one thousand exhibitors with 

 one or two specimens of choice fruit or plants, than to iiave only two or three exhi- 

 bitors with a large display, many of which are only put in to make out a collection 

 of a large number of varieties, and are worthless to grow for any other purpose. 



1 would also recommend a list of premiums for young ladies and gentlemen under 

 eighteen years of age, or men that age, to induce them to make exhibits and be- 

 come interested and active members of our Society. Again, instead of offering 

 agricultural papers for all second, third and fourth premiums, amounting to one 

 dollar or less, I would offer one year's membership to our Society and a copy of our 

 reports. Hoping thereby to introduce them into every school district in our entire 

 Stale. 



Believing, as [ do, that the Minnesota State Horticultural Society was organ- 

 ized for the benefit of the people of the State of Minnesota, and not for private 

 purposes of any kind, whether in the interest of nurserymen, old settlers, or a 

 mutual admiration society. You will pardon me I hope for the views herein ad- 

 vanced. When I look around and see the same old faces for so many years, 

 and !:ee them slowly passing away to other, a:.id I hope better fields of labor, and 

 their places supplied only by others of about the same age, I don't wonder at the 

 question being asked, if ours is not an did settlers association? Then, again, when I 

 hear discussed by the hour the Duchess, Wealthy, or Transcendent crab year after 

 year, that someone should ask if some nurseryman has not an ax to grind, or are 

 we not talking to see which can make the best speech, or for mutual admiration. 



I for one feel that there are other vital and important interests in horticulture, 

 floriculture and arboriculture that demand, and should receive, at least, a share of 

 your attention. The cultivation of vegetables and the varieties suited to our soil 

 and climate has been almost wholly ignored by this Society, while there are more 

 than twenty engaged in growing vegetables and small fruits, where there is one 

 in growing apples to any extent; and there is received and marketed in this State, 

 at least, fifty dollars worth of vegetables and small fruits where there is one dollar's 

 worth of apples; and still our State has this season imported many thousands of 



