STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 141 



dollars worth of vegetables, to say nothing of small fruits that could and should 

 have been raised in our State, and the money saved to our own citizens, instead of 

 going to other States. One town in Michigan boasts of having shipped 20,000 

 tons of celery, much of which has found a market in St. Paul and Minneapolis and 

 other Minnesota towns, and this, together with car loads after car loads of other 

 vegetables have come to Minnesota for a market that could have been grown here 

 of better quality, and at a large profit. Now, would it not be well to get the vege- 

 table gardeners to come in and take an interest in our Society and discuss the best 

 varieties, mode and manner of cultivation. Again, if we would get the ladies to 

 take a part and interest themselves in our Society, (and who is there that does not 

 want them here) should we not take more time for discussion of different house 

 plants, flowers and shrubbery, and the best varieties and mode of cultivating them? 



Now, in regard to our Summer Meeting, instead of having a two days' meeting 

 and exhibition, I will propose that the Society form itself into a committee of the 

 whole and pay a visit to the State University Experimental Farm, and there take 

 our baskets of lunch and spend the day, some time in the month of June agre'ed 

 upon by the executive committee and Prof. Porter, and in this way learn more in 

 one day than we could discussing here for a month, and all take notes of what he 

 or she sees new or of interest, and then when we come to compare ideas at our 

 winter meeting will have something for a common standpoint, from which to judge 

 of different varieties and modes of cultivation, and a chance to see and learn more 

 of new and improved varieties and modes of cultivation than in any other waj', 

 and at the same time see and know what is going on here in our midst for our 

 special benefit. 



I have thrown out these suggestions, but wish it distinctly understood that I do 

 not insist upon the adoption of even one of them, but offer them in the hope that 

 they may suggest to the minds of the members of this Society the importance of 

 adopting some measures to interest and draw into our Society the young and rising 

 generation, so that they may become active and honorable members thereof. And 

 that the Minnesota State Horticultural Society in its usefulness may survive long 

 after its present members have gone to their last resting place. And that we may 

 have done something in our day to put the Society in a prosperous and progressive 

 position, will ever be the wish and prayer of your humble servant Thanking j^ou 

 each and all for the kindness and good feeling shown me, I herewith return my 

 thanks for the honors conferred upon me, aad will bespeak foi- my successor your 

 best aid in carrying on the good work already begun, and may it go on without 

 interruption until every town in this State shall have its orchard, fruit, vegetable 

 and flower gardens, and its yards filled with evergreens and shrubbery, and its sides 

 fenced with shade and ornamental trees, and each school house in our State its 

 play grounds well laid out and beautifully supplied with shade and ornamental trees, 

 shrubs and flowers and the requirements of horticulture and plant growth taught 

 in every school in our land. To this end let us each and all work with a will and 

 harmoniously, and that each individual meml)er will forget and forgive each and all 

 their differences of interest and opinion that naturally and frequently occur in Soci- 

 eties of this kind, and always remember, to freely accord to others the honesty and 

 freedom of opinion that they expect to exact for themselves. 



