STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 249 



3ota ? And, further, should not something be done each year by this Society and 

 its executive board, to aid in experimental work ? 



Among possible lines of investigation which might be named are, protection 

 from contingencies of climate; the effects of drought; averting injuries from scorch- 

 ing heat, from storms in summer and disastroias frosts in winter ; originating new 

 varieties of the hardiest, healthiest and best kinds of fruit trees, plants, flowers, 

 vines and shrubbery ; (casting out the worthless and unworthy,) studying the na- 

 ture of plants, their diseases, their acclimation and methods of cross- fertilization ; 

 the habits and influence of insect life upon plants and fruits, and carefully noting 

 the results. , 



It may be said and to the credit of this Society, that its oflScers and members are 

 deeply interested in the work which they have undertaken. They recognize the 

 nature of the multitude of difficulties to be met and overcome. The record made 

 already in the past in many aspects is a cheering one, and better things are hoped 

 for in the future. In order to avoid mistakes and make substantial progress in the 

 work we have in hand we want united action ; our methods need to be both practi- 

 cal and plain. We seek to gather information everywhere and profit by experience, 

 time and labor spent by kindred state and local organizations similar to our own. 



LOCAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 



As indicating the increasing interest taken in horticulture in this State, it is but 

 proper to refer to what is being done by local organizations. Of these societies 

 there are quite a number in existance, and doing a good work. One new society 

 has been established recently at Granite Falls, and it is gratifying to observe the 

 progress being made in various portions of the State in active, earnest, thorough 

 work. Without designing to repeat or in the least infringe upon the very interest- 

 ing report already handed in, we wish to call attention to the very creditable record 

 made by the Hennepin County Hoi-ticultural Society and Gardener's Association, 

 and more especially in connection with its second annual fair. This organization 

 has but recently been founded (that is a couple years ago,) but has already gained 

 deserving fame abroad. There is no question that it is accomplishing much which 

 will be of lasting benefit to its many members as well as others, by its experiments, 

 its meetings and discussions and various methods used and recommended. In this 

 connection, as showing what is being done, we quote the following, taken from 

 the St. Paul Pioneer- Press, descriptive of the opening of the second annual fair, 

 occurring September 22, 1885: 



A REALLY SUPERB DISPLAY. 



The second annual fair of the Hennepin County Horticultural society and Market Gardeners' associa- 

 tion opened yesterday at the new Brackett block, corner of Second street and First avenue. As is usual 

 on such occasions, Jthe first day was i-eally devoted to the arrangraent of the various exhibits, but 

 enough were in place last evening to prove that the fair is the most Fuccessful of its kind ever held iu 

 the county, and the display of fruits and vegetables surpasses that witnessed at any meeting of the 

 State Horticultural Society. The grape exhibit alone occupies a table at least three feet in width and 

 seventy-five feet ia length, the major portion of which is credited to the intelligent and enterprising 

 horticulturists residing along the shores of Lake Minnetonka. Perhaps the largest single exhibitor is 

 Mr. A. W. I/atham of Excelsior, who has no less than thirty distinct varieties of grapes on the table. 

 He has a vineyard covering eight acres, five of which are bearing, and as one gentleman expressed it, 

 "There are not weeds enough in the vineyard to till your hat." The moisture and sandy soil of the lake 



