GENERAL FRUITS. 153 
things from abroad, especially unknown seedlings. We havea 
great many seedlings from Iowa and Wisconsin. We have 
those trees on trial, and if they bear fruit, and the fruit is of 
good quality, and the trees are productive and perfectly hardy, 
and we have evidence of the real value for Minnesota, it would 
seem to be time enough then to bring them prominently before 
the public; and if we doit before then and they prove other- 
wise, our labor is lost. 
Mr. Wedge: I would like toask Mr. Dartt if Patten’s Green- 
ing ranks with the Hibernal and Duchess, 
Mr. Dartt: I can answer that without getting up. It does 
not; the Hibernal did the best of any tree in the experiment 
orchard. . 
Mr. Wedge: It does not look as well as the Duchess? 
Mr. Dartt: No, it does not look as well as the Duchess. 
On motion of Mr. Brand the report of Mr. Harris was adopted. 
Mr. Wedge: It seems to me Mr. Harris is doing a great deal 
in the line of looking up fruits, and is doing it without any 
compensation. It isno more than right that we as a society 
should express our appreciation of his presistence in this mat- 
ter. I move we tender him a vote of thanks for looking up 
seedling fruits. 
Mr. Brand: That reminds me of what the old soldier said 
during the pension agitation: ‘‘I would rather have an ounce 
of taffy while I am alive than a ton of epitaphy after I am 
dead.” I wish to amend that motion by saying that we pay 
Mr. Harris $25 for his services during the year. 
Mr. Wedge accepted the amendment and the motion prevailed. 
Mr. Harris: This is entirely unexpected. While I do a 
great deal of work for nothing, I am willing to do it if my work 
is only appreciated, and I will buy myself a new suit of clothes 
or do something with the money to show that I remember your 
gift. 
Mr. Ferris, (of Iowa): Mr. Brand told a little story, and 
that reminds me of astory. A doctor was called by a farmer 
to go out into the country some four or five miles. It was a 
stormy, disagreeable night,and the roads were in a terrible con- 
dition. The doctor staid all night, and in the morning the man 
asked him, ‘‘How much do you charge?” ‘‘Well,” said the 
doctor, ‘‘the roads are bad, it was a hard trip, and I will have to 
charge you five dollars.” ‘‘All right,” said the farmer, ‘‘I 
have no money now, and the fact of the matter is I don’t know 
whether I can ever pay you, but you can rest assured of one 
. 
