over nearly a third of the States in the Union. Membership dues are 
$i.oo per year which includes full membership in the Minnesota 
State Horticultural Society, the privilege of obtaining, free of charge, 
premiums in the way of new plants, fruits and flowers, disseminated 
by the Horticultural Society; participation in exhibitions and the 
sharing of premiums offered; personal advice on planting and cul- 
tural problems, etc. 
An Iris exhibition in conjunction with the American Iris Society 
will be held in Minneapohs in early June and plans are being formu- 
lated for a Peony show that will doubtless be held in St. Paul. In 
addition, a Peony and Iris exhibition will be held at the University 
Farm School, St. Paul, in connection with the Horticultural So- 
ciety's summer meeting. The Northwest seems to be an ideal place 
for the development and raising of the Peony and Iris. The climate 
proves a little too severe for some of the more tender varieties of 
Iris, but most of them do well here. Peonies seem to be in their 
element and produce wonderful bloom. No other State in the Union 
offers greater variance in climatic conditions than does Minnesota. 
As an instance of this I wish to refer to the City of Duluth, situated 
on the shore of Lake Superior. Due to the topography of the country 
surrounding Duluth it is possible to exhibit the very earhest varieties 
of Peonies, such as Edulus Superha, with the very latest, such as 
Richardson's Grandiflora, at the same time, without resorting to cold 
storage that is necessary in most instances in order to display these 
two varieties at the same exhibition. The residence portion of the 
city is situated possibly four hundred or five hundred feet above the 
Lake level. Owing to the influence of the Lake in the spring, the 
Peony gardens located near the shore are about three weeks later 
than they are back on the brow of the hill, and the intervening gar- 
dens are correspondingly late. Then back over the hills where the 
influence of the Lake is not felt quite so much, the Peony gardens 
are about a month earher than the gardens down near the shore. The 
writer had the pleasure of judging one of the first Peony shows held 
in Duluth, which is now an annual event, and it is plain to be seen 
that the residents are not slow to appreciate the natural environ- 
ment and avail themselves of its advantages. 
Owing to the nominal fee for membership, it is not possible to 
make reduced membership fees to other organizations. Our work is 
carried on purely for the betterment of the flowers we represent and 
a more diversified knowledge of their usefulness, to the end that 
every garden may be graced by their beauty, and hearts gladdened 
by their possession. 
W. F. Christman 
Secretary, Northwestern Peony and Iris Society 
3804, 5th Avenue, South, MinneapoHs, Minn. 
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