352 ANNUAL REPORT. 



surrounding the homes of our people with everything that could in 

 any way 2ontribute to their comfort and happiness in this life and 

 point them to a better life to follow this. 



Some of my co-workers have already passed over the river to the 

 beautiful land beyond. I still remain with you, but feel that age is 

 beginning to creep fast upon me. I cannot always remain one of 

 your number, but I hope that my labors may be somewhat remembered 

 and that when you lay me to rest that you can say as you look over 

 the few brief pages of my earthly record, "that man did not live wholly 

 in vain, but he wrought for others, and the little spot of earth upon 

 which he lived is better for his having lived upon it." And to remind 

 you of me when I have passed away I take pleasure to-day in present- 

 ing you with a picture taken last week, which I think perhaps is a 

 very correct likeness of the man whose name was first signed to the 

 roll of membership of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, one 

 who has never forgotten the interests of the Society and never shrinked 

 anj' duty which he was called upon to perform, but who in sickness 

 and in health, in poverty or in prosperity, has been with you and stood 

 by you, whose best wishes and desire is that the State Horticultural 

 Society may have a brighter future, that it may in its work accomplish 

 the greatest good to the greatest number of people, and in the end con- 

 vert our beloved Minnesota into the most desirable place of human 

 residence upon the face of the earth. I hope that through your instru- 

 mentalities the time may hasten when all our prairies will be dotted 

 over with well cultivated farms and comfortable homes, when the 

 various products raised may be ample to meet every demand and when 

 the richest down to the humblest person may have an abundance of 

 the most luscious of fruits, so cheap that all can afford to partake to 

 their fill. 



Mr. Secretary, I place this photograph in the hands of the Society. 

 [Applause.] 



Mr. Sias. Mr. President, I stood b}' the side of this teacher in the 

 day that this Society was born, and I have been a student under him 

 ever since. I think it was General Lafayette, when sitting for a paint- 

 ing, instructed the artist to ''show the wrinkles and all," and lam 

 glad to know that Brother Harris had his fine likeness presented to 

 the Society in the same true-to-life way. A good man might be com- 

 pared to a birds-eye maple, the more consentric rings it has the greater 

 the value of the tree; and so with Brother Harris, the longer belabors 

 in his efficient and unselfish way for the good of our Society, and for 



