ever did in North Dakota, so I shall. I visited him a good many years
ago, and he had some interesting boys there, especially the oldest one,
and I told him that if he was going to keep ahead of that boy he would
have to hustle, and now that boy at nineteen has the ability to go to
one of the southern states as a professor. So he didn't tell us the
greatest thing he ever did. Maybe some of the credit is due to his wife;
that is the way it is at my house. (Applause.)
Mr. Waldron: I am so far behind that boy I am sort of jealous. I do not
mention it.
The President: The secretary of the Wisconsin Horticultural Society is
with us, Professor Cranefield. Is he in the room?
Mr. Cranefield: Mr. Graves, of Sturgeon Bay, is the duly accredited
delegate to the society and probably you want to hear from him.
The President: We heard from him two or three days ago, and we will hear
from him again, but just now we want you to give us a few words. This is
Professor Cranefield, who has contributed on previous occasions to the
success of our meetings. (Applause.) (See index.)
The President: I will now call on Professor Mackintosh, who is going to
read a paper at this time.
Mr. Mackintosh: Yesterday I had to start the ball rolling as a
substitute for a man from Washington, and with the assistance of Miss
Bull we kept most of you here until after 12 o'clock. Today I am put
ahead of the program, so you won't hear me tomorrow afternoon. The
subject is, "Bringing the Producer and Consumer Together."
Mr. Mackintosh reads paper. (Applause.)
The President: I regret very much that time will not permit us to
discuss this very able paper. Secretary Latham has just called my
attention to the fact that there has been but very few tickets bought
for the banquet this evening. You understand it takes time to prepare
food, and he has to announce just how many people would be present, and
I sincerely hope that those of you who intend to attend the banquet (and
I trust that will be every one present) will get your tickets
immediately. It is the very best part of our program. Please get your
tickets so that Secretary Latham may know how to prepare for you.
At this time recess was taken until 1:30 o'clock p.m.
December 9, 1915, Afternoon Session.
Discussion on "The Topworked Orchard," led by A. J. Philips, Wisconsin.
(See index.)
The President: The next order of business will be the election of
officers for the coming year. The secretary just handed me this slip
which gives you an idea of the requirements in order to be eligible to
vote for officers. (Reads extracts from constitution.) The first will be
the selection of a president for the coming year. Nominations are in
order.
Mr. Bradley: Mr. President, it is said that republics are ungrateful,
but it is not necessary for horticultural societies to be ungrateful. It
has been, I think, in the past, and I hope it may continue to be in the
future, the policy of this society to recognize the services of its
officers and so we, I think, are justified in recognizing the
distinguished and efficient services of our present presiding officer. I
take great pleasure in placing in nomination for president of this
society the Honorable Thomas E. Cashman. (Applause.)
Nomination is duly seconded and there are no other nominations.
Mr. Crosby: I move that the secretary be instructed to cast the
unanimous ballot of this society for Thomas E. Cashman as president of
this society.
Motion is seconded and carried.
Mr. Cashman: Friends, I deeply appreciate this honor that you have
conferred upon me. I am always ready to contribute my mite towards the
service of the people, but I am never happy unless I am convinced that I
am able to give all that the position demands. Your selection of me as
your presiding officer for the sixth time convinces me that you are at
least satisfied with what I have been able to do for you and this, I
assure you, makes me extremely happy.
I will endeavor to show my appreciation by doing all that is within my
power to further the interests of this society made up of men and women
that cannot be excelled for intelligence, cleanliness of habits and
honorable and right living. I know a great many horticulturists, not
only of this state but of other states, and they, I assure you--and you
know it yourselves--are far above the average. I therefore deem it a
great honor to be known as the president of one of the best
organizations, I do not care whether it is horticultural or otherwise,
in this country today. I thank you. (Applause.)
The President: I find there are two members of the executive board to be
elected at this time, one to succeed Professor LeRoy Cady and another
Mr. R. A. Wright, whose terms of office expire at this time.
Mr. Cady and Mr. Wright are nominated to succeed themselves, nominations
are seconded and upon motion the secretary cast the unanimous ballot of
the society for Mr. Cady and Mr. Wright as members of the executive
board for the coming three years.
The President: The next will be the selection of a treasurer.
Mr. George Strand is renominated, nomination is seconded and on motion
the secretary cast the ballot of the society for Mr. George W. Strand
for treasurer.
The President: The secretary places in nomination the following men, as
vice presidents of this organization. I will ask him to name the list.
Vice-Presidents: C. E. Snyder, 1st Cong. Dist., Preston; S. D.
Richardson, 2nd Cong. Dist., Winnebago; J. K. Andrews, 3rd Cong. Dist.,
Faribault; B. Wallner, Jr., 4th Cong. Dist., St. Paul; F. H. Nutter, 5th
Cong. Dist., Minneapolis; Matt. Tschida, 6th Cong. Dist., St. Cloud; G.
A. Anderson, 7th Cong. Dist., Renville; J. Kimball, 8th Cong. Dist.,
Duluth; A. L. Hanson, 9th Cong. Dist., Ada; A. W. Richardson, 10th Cong.
Dist., Howard Lake.
Secretary Latham reads names of nominees for vice presidents and places
them in nomination. Nomination is seconded and upon motion the secretary
is instructed to cast the ballot of the society for the persons named as
vice-presidents.
The President: The next number will be a speech by Mr. S. P. Crosby,
chairman of the committee that was selected by this association to go
before the legislature at the last session and try to secure an
appropriation sufficient to build a home for this society. (See index.)
The next gentleman on the program is our friend Clarence Wedge, who is
going to tell us of his trip out to Yellowstone Park. (See index.)
Mr. Wedge: Not exactly to Yellowstone Park. We came within a day's drive
of the Yellowstone, but our interest and enthusiasm went in another
direction this year.
Mr. Wedge reads paper.
The President: "Peonies New and Old," by Mr. A. M. Brand, of Faribault,
one of the best peony specialists in the state.
A Member: And of the world. (Applause.) (See index.)
Discussion.
The President: We have another noted horticulturist with us today from
Illinois. You have all heard of the Senator Dunlap strawberry. The
originator is with us today, Senator Dunlap, of Savoy, Illinois. He will
be on the program tomorrow. I will be pleased to have the senator come
forward and give us a word of greeting.
Mr. Dunlap: I hardly think it is necessary for me to come forward. I
will be on the program a couple of times, and you will hear all that you
care to from me. I am very glad to be here with you. It has been some
time since I met with your society, but I remember well the very
pleasant time I had at that time. I came this week from the Michigan
Horticultural Society, in session at Grand Rapids, and I was very loath
to leave such an interesting meeting, but I knew when I came to
Minneapolis I would be in just as interesting a meeting. I wish to
disabuse your minds of the statements made by your honorable chairman
through an error. I am not the originator of the Senator Dunlap
strawberry. The Reverend Mr. Reisenour (?) is the originator of the
strawberry, and he thought it was a thrifty, strong, healthy plant and
would stand the name of Dunlap, so he gave it to the strawberry.
(Laughter and Applause.)
The President: I stand corrected. I have been misinformed, although I
think you carry the honor. Our time is up. I have been requested to
announce that the lantern talk given by Mrs. James Jennison will take
place at the close of the Woman's Auxiliary meeting. Some very talented
ladies are to speak this afternoon, and I hope you will all stay and
listen to them. I will now turn the meeting over to the Women's
Auxiliary and request Mrs. F. M. Powers, who will preside, to take the
chair.
Mrs. Powers: Just a continuation, I hope, of our good program that was
begun this afternoon, and we will now listen to Mrs. Clarence Wedge, of
Albert Lea, on the "Value of Horticulture to the Farm." Mrs. Wedge is
not a stranger to horticulture nor to this society. (See index.)
Mrs. Powers: Some one has said that the enemy of art is the enemy of
nature, and art is nothing more than the highest sagacity and attainment
of human nature. We have with us Mrs. Cyrus W. Wells, who has had
considerable experience in this line and will give us the practical
side.
Mrs. Wells spoke on "Art Made Practical."
Mrs. Powers: "The Day's Work," by Mrs. John B. Irwin.
Mrs. Powers: According to our program we were to have one speaker
tomorrow morning because we thought she could not be here at this time,
but Mrs. Dunlap is here and will favor us now, if you please.
Talk by Mrs. A. M. Dunlap on "Better Methods in the Home."
Mrs. Powers: The last number on our program will be "The Highway
Beautiful," by Mrs. Jennison.
Mrs. Jennison gave a lantern talk.
President Cashman: We have a very important question to be considered
this afternoon, and, fortunately for us, it is going to be taken care of
by one of our best men--"Breeding for Hardiness"--something this
gentleman has been doing all his life. He has met with a great deal of
success, and we are profiting by it. That gentleman is Professor N. E.
Hansen, of Brookings, South Dakota. (Applause.) (See index.)
The President: Mr. C. E. Older has some suggestions to make, and we will
give him an opportunity to talk at this time.
Mr. Older: Mr. President, and Ladies and Gentlemen: In a meeting of some
of the leading exhibitors of the state fair yesterday they expressed
quite a bit of dissatisfaction with the present manner of awarding
premiums on commercial apples, that is, boxes of apples and one-layer
boxes. The point was that it would be a good thing if the state could be
divided so that the sections which are more favorable for the
development of the apple would be in a section by themselves, and the
balance of the state compete by itself. The following resolution was
formulated to bring before this society, asking for their opinion oh the
subject and discussion:
Resolved, That we ask the state fair board that the state be divided
into two sections for the purpose of exhibit at the State Fair, making
two classes, one being the Wealthy apple and the other class comprising
all other varieties of box and one layer apples, the state to be divided
as follows: Beginning at the Mississippi river on the north line of
Goodhue County and running west on the north line of Goodhue, Rice, Le
Sueur and Nicollet Counties, thence running south on the west line of
Nicollet, Blue Earth and Faribault. All those counties lying east and
south of these lines are to constitute the first district, the balance
of the state being known as the second district.
We also ask the state fair board that first, second, third, fourth and
fifth premiums be offered on all apples, and on all the next ten lower
exhibits a certain premium be paid to all deserving exhibits.
And we ask that premiums be offered on Everbearing Strawberries showing
both bearing plants and fruit of the Progressive, Superb, and any other
varieties.
We also ask the state fair board that they make some practical
arrangements to get the horticultural exhibits moved to the state fair
from the depots in a more satisfactory and cheaper manner than the
present arrangements.
I move you that this resolution be adopted.
Motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned.
December 10, 1915, Morning Session.
The President: We are to have a talk on "Spraying the Orchard," by
Senator Dunlap, of Illinois, this morning. (See index.)
Discussion.
Mr. Crosby: We thank Senator Dunlap for his able talk. I think that is
the way to progress. If we do not do things right up-to-date we can
learn how to do better from a competent man.
The President: We all enjoyed the able talk of Senator Dunlap. He is
president of the Orchard Association of Illinois. He is considered one
of the most practical men down there, and we are very fortunate in
having him with us and to listen to his valuable talk and experience.
(Applause.)
We will now listen to Professor Richard Wellington, who will tell us
about "Orcharding in Minnesota." (Applause.) (See index.)
Discussion.
The President: I am going to suggest a little matter at this time which
I am sure you will all approve of. It has been said by hundreds of men
and women attending these meetings who have had an opportunity of
enjoying the talks and papers and splendid program given here that we
had the greatest horticultural society in the world. It is true that we
have the largest membership of any horticultural society in the United
States and, I presume, of the world.
You will all agree with me that is due to the efforts of one man to a
large extent. That man has been in our service and looked after our
interests for twenty-five years. He is at his best all the time,
cordial, kind, using good judgment, prevents friction among us, always
working for the best interests of everybody belonging to the society and
the interests of the state.
As I said before, he has served us twenty-five years, and I think it
only fitting at this time that we should show our appreciation in a way
that will appeal better than words. It has been suggested that we
purchase some little token and present it this afternoon. It is up to
you as to how much you want to give or whether you want to give anything
or not, but Mr. Crosby and Mr. Brackett will be at the door as you pass
out this noon, and they will probably have a hat there and you can drop
in what you want to, and we will buy something for him and present it
this afternoon. (Great applause.)
The President: Now we will turn the meeting over to the Plant Breeders'
Auxiliary. I regret very much to have to announce that our good friend,
Clarence Wedge, president of this auxiliary, is ill this afternoon and
unable to occupy the chair. I understand there is no vice-president of
the auxiliary, and I have been requested to continue as chairman during
this meeting.
We have a very important program, one of the very best we have had. Some
of our best men are on this program and I hope you will all stay and
attend the balance of this meeting. I am going to call on our good
friend, Charles Haralson, superintendent of the Zumbra Heights farm, to
tell us about "New Fruits Originated at the State Fruit-Breeding Farm."
(Applause.) (See index.)
The President: Professor C. B. Waldron, of North Dakota, finds it
necessary to leave in a very short time, and he will therefore address
you at this time instead of this afternoon. He will tell us about
"Running Out of Varieties." (See index.)
We will now listen to the report of the committee on examination of the
Minnesota State Fruit-Breeding Farm, Dr. O. M. Huestis, Chairman. (See
index.)
The President: The next speaker needs no introduction to a Minnesota
audience, as the word "Hansen" is a household word and particularly in
every agricultural community within the state, and the Hansen hybrids
are eagerly sought for by practically everybody who plants trees.
Professor Hansen has done a good work and is still accomplishing things.
He will tell us what he has done during 1915. I regret the time is so
short, but we will get Mr. Hansen to tell us more about his work.
"Newer Fruits," Prof. N. E. Hansen, Brookings, S. D.
Afternoon Session, at 1:30.
Half-hour exercise, questions and answers on "Increasing the Fertility
of the Land," led by Dr. F. J. Alway. (See index.)
The President: Mr. Crosby has a word for us, and before continuing with
the regular program I will ask him to come forward at this time.
Mr. Crosby: Gentlemen of the Horticultural Society: Mr. Latham, please
come this way. I have the honor, in behalf of the society, to inform
you, as you probably know, that this is your silver wedding, but we are
going it one better and make it a golden wedding for you today. We have
come to the conclusion, you have been with this society for twenty-five
years, and we think it is best that you be watched and chained. I have
the honor of presenting to you, in behalf of the society, a gold watch
and chain. That is all I have to say. (Applause.)
Mr. Philips: Now for a speech.
Mr. Latham: Wait a moment, I will see if it is worth it. (Laughter.) I
hate to part with this old turnip. I have carried it forty-five years
now, never broke a crystal on it, even. It is a good faithful companion.
I do not know what I will do with this now unless I put it away in a
safety vault somewhere.
I do not think the Horticultural Society expects me to make a speech;
they know I am not a talker. I could say something if the room were
smaller, but my voice does not seem to carry very well. I am a good deal
in the fix of the steamboat that carried passengers on the river up and
down to the camp meeting there. They had a whistle on that boat that
made a tremendous noise but when they blew it the boat had to stop.
(Laughter.) If I talk loud enough to be heard here, my thinking works do
not operate. (Laughter.)
I hardly know how to express my appreciation of this gift, as showing
the sentiment of the society towards me. Of course, I have tried to do
what I could for the society. Sometimes, perhaps, I have gone a little
too far, something like the man who was appointed in charge of a flag
station. He had never done any such service as that, but he understood
the business of a flagman was to stop trains. The first train that came
along was a heavy express train, eight or ten or a dozen coaches, and he
rushed out and flagged the train. The conductor got off, all in a hurry,
and looked around. He did not see anybody but the flagman. He said:
"Where are your passengers?" "Well," he says, "there ain't any
passengers to get on, but I didn't know but somebody would like to get
off." (Laughter.) Sometimes, perhaps, I have overreached myself here.
Twenty-five years is quite a while to look back, and as I look over the
faces of those present I can scarcely see one that was a member of the
society twenty-five years ago when I became secretary. Mr. Long in his
address before you at the banquet last night spoke of the meeting that
he first attended of the horticultural society, held in what is now the
Metropolitan Life, on the ground floor, and he spoke of the surroundings
there. No fruit on exhibition. If a man had two or three apples in his
pocket, he showed them around on the sly as though it was a crime to let
people know there was such a thing and that he had a few at home he
could eat. Quite a remarkable thing!
That was the meeting of the horticultural society in which I was first
elected secretary, and I recall well all the circumstances connected
with it. So many of our members that I thought so much of in those days
are gone. Of those who were present at that meeting, the only person
left that I recall is Mr. Underwood. I had forgotten Mr. Long was there;
I think he reported the meeting; I guess the first of our meetings that
he reported, too.
I am not going to make any more of an address. President Vincent is here
and will address you. I thank you very much indeed. (Applause.)
Mr. Vincent: I am very glad that I got in in time to be a witness to
this delightful and gratifying little ceremony which has just taken
place. I can not imagine anything more satisfying to a man who, in spite
of all his modesty, knows he has done for twenty-five years good,
genuine, valuable work than to have other people intimate in so pleasant
a way that they are not entirely oblivious to what he has done.
It always does one good to see efficient work recognized, and, while I
cannot own, I am sorry to say, to an intimate personal acquaintance with
Mr. Latham, I have come into association with him often enough to be
able to share a little what you feel toward him and toward what he has
done.
The President: I am sure you will all be delighted to hear from the very
popular president of one of the greatest universities in the United
States, President George E. Vincent of Minnesota State University, who
will now address you. (See index.)
The President: I am sure we are very much indebted to President Vincent
for this most scholarly and delightful speech. We hope he can continue
with us during the afternoon. Owing to the fullness of our program this
forenoon we are unable to discuss one of our most important subjects,
and that was "The Elements of Hardiness," by Prof. M. J. Dorsey, member
of the Fruit Breeding Section, of the University Farm. He will discuss
that question at this time. (Applause.) (See index.)
The President: Senator Dunlap, who so delightfully entertained us this
morning and instructed us on the subject of "Spraying" will now speak to
us on the subject of "Packing and Marketing Apples." (See index.)
Discussion.
The President: I am now going to call on a gentleman that hasn't said a
word during our discussions and that is Mr. Weld, and request him to
recite his favorite poem.
Mr. Weld recites "The Three Warnings."
The President: We have had a very interesting session, had a good time,
everything has gone very nicely, but somehow there has been one thing
lacking. The old friends from Iowa have not been with us with one
exception, Mr. Ferris, who gave us the lantern talk on Tuesday, but
Friend Gardner, Patten, Sherman and several others (I believe Sherman
has been in town, but we have not seen him here) have been absent. The
reason for it is that the Iowa people have been holding their annual
meeting. But I am very glad that Mr. Gardner is with us this afternoon,
and I am now going to call upon Mr. Charles F. Gardner, of Osage, Iowa.
(Applause.)
Mr. Gardner: Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen: I have attended your
meetings so long that when I appear here before you I feel as though I
had got home. I have attended every meeting of this society except two
since this society held its annual meeting at Lake City the last time.
That is when I joined the society, and since that time a great many
things have taken place. Think it is seventeen or eighteen years ago, in
that neighborhood. I was absent two years. I went to New Mexico, I went
there to die, but luckily I escaped and came back home. I want to say
this, that when I got back to this part of the country, if there was
anything I thanked God for it was that I was spared to get back. I think
there is no necessity of emigrating either from Minnesota or Iowa, and
people that have traveled over the west and made a tour extending along
the Pacific coast and finally get back into this country, this latitude,
are generally pretty well satisfied and stay here. That is, providing
they didn't spend all their money and can not get back here. Some of our
citizens are now stranded out there and will come home whenever they
can.
In regard to the progress of horticulture in this length of time, I know
you are very much interested in the work of Mr. Patten and a good many
of you have trees that he originated. I want to say that the people of
our state of Iowa have not really gotten their eyes open yet in
horticultural ways. They only appropriated for our use $4,000. We have
five societies, the state society--and then the state is divided into
four sections. In the last few years our state society has appropriated
to carry on, to help Mr. Patten carry on his work, we have appropriated
and used $4,600.