OFFICERS’ REPORTS. 15 
elect a board of trustees to serve for one, two and three years, so 
that in retiring them, they would not all go out of office at once. 
Another wise provision would be to set aside one-half of our re- 
ceipts for membership as a permanent fund which should be al- 
lowed to accumulate until some fitting time came for furnishing a 
home for our society. Welack the means to do this, and I do not 
know of a better way to make a start. 
It has proved a great success and of inestimable value to have the 
proceedings of our society published in magazine form. It brings 
our lessons to us in a sensible manner, and just enough of them at 
a time to be a delightful relish. I congratulate the society in mak- 
ing the change and in having so efficient and successful a secretary 
as Mr. Latham to conductit. Our magazine wasa venture, it is true, 
but “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” We were the first of the 
state societies to adopt the plan, and it certainly is one I can heart- 
ily recommend to all, provided they have a man fitted by experience 
and education to conduct it. A splendid field of usefulness lies 
before us with this medium at our hands. All who wish to cannot 
be present at our meetings, and, in this way, we can go to them once 
a month and carry them greeting and words of cheer. 
Our summer meeting was a most delightful one, held on the 
beautiful grounds of Mr. and Mrs. Dorillus Morrison, of Minne- 
apolis. The day was an ideal one in June, warm enough to be 
pleasant and under the grateful shade of the magnificent trees that 
graced the lawn, it was cool and inviting. A fine exhibit of roses 
and strawberries was spread on the tables, and an ample provision 
of good things to eat. A relish of toasts was served which proved 
to be a very fine literary program, and, although well reported in 
our “ Minnesota Horticulturist,” should have been heard to be fully 
appreciated. All who were present enjoyed the occasion exceed- 
ingly and carried to their homes grateful rememberances of the 
hospitality of Mr.and Mrs. Morrison. I am sureif our members 
knew what good times we have atour summer meetings, they would 
break away from business one day and attend. 
The past year has been fraught with much of interest to horticul- 
ture. The intense feverish condition of the industrial and financial 
interests of our land, that have tried to seek a solution in frenzied 
political vibrations from one party to another, will, after all, find a 
more satifactory adjustment of the unfortunate conditions that exist 
by adopting a sound, sensible mode of horticultural living for all 
classes, and, particularly, the restless unemployed. During the year 
men have pranced in wild enthusiasm across the continent to Wash- 
ington, led by hare-brained enthusiasts, regardless of the rights of 
others and in defiance of the law. Railroad trains were stolen and 
compelled to transport them on their way. {Towns were besieged 
and required to furnish food and shelter, and in some instances 
- large sums of money were contributed to furnish means for remov- 
ing the incubus that taxed the people to their wit’s end to know how 
to get rid of. Anarmy of tramps! Now tramping wearily along; 
again, riding in wagons or anything they could command; or float- 
ing down the Father of Waters on rudely constructed rafts, like so 
