50 WESTERN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The list might be greatly extended, but the names given 

 will suffice to give some idea of the wealth of our western 

 flora in plants worthy of cultivation, and some of them of 

 remarkable beauty. It will be noticed that none of our beau- 

 tiful ferns are included. Sometime, perhaps, in the near 

 future, Winnipeg may possess a botanical garden in which 

 all these and many other of nature's gems, may be brought 

 together to demonstrate that this adopted land of ours is not 

 a wilderness, but a land of flowers. 



I have spoken of the value of these prairie flowers to the 

 homesick immigrant. Many can say with Campbell, 



" Ye field flowers ! the gardens eclipse you 'tis true ; 

 Yet, wildlings of nature I dote upon you, 



For ye waft me to summers of old, 

 When the earth teem'd around me with fairy delight, 

 And when daisies and buttercups gladden'd my sight, 



Like treasures of silver and gold." 



Report of the Executive Committee, 



Presented at the Annual Meeting in the City Hall, Winnipeg, 

 February 18th, 1898. 



To the Members of the 



Manitoba Horticultural Society : 



During the twelve months last past there has been a con- 

 siderable change in the Society's method of holding meetings. 

 Instead of monthly meetings which did not excite very gen- 

 eral public interest, and which at the best could only benefit 

 a limited circle in and about Winnipeg, it was decided to hold 

 fewer meetings of that class and give special attention to an 

 annual gathering in the month of February, to which mem- 

 bers outside the city should be specially invited, and with a 



