THE COMING FRUIT EXHIBIT AT THE STATE FAIR TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE FAIR OPENS.-This very important change in the preparation for the fair should have special notice. Our readers have all received the premium list, and they will find at the top of page 43, under the head of "Notice," this new regulation. Exhibitors will find it necessary to plan for this, and their hearty co-operation is expected in carrying out successfully this innovation. Monday morning will open up with the horticultural hall in a finished condition, fully ready for visitors. This is a consummation devoutly to be wished" for, and for which we shall all labor heartily.

THE FLORIDA SOCIETY MEETS.-The horticultural society of this southeastern state convenes in the late spring, and this year met in twelfth annual session at Jacksonville, on May 2-5. The attendace was very large, 175, and in membership the organization ranks very high, reporting a total of paid members of 352. The misfortunes of the fruit growers of Florida have brought them together in force to study the vital problem of immunity from frost, which has been forced upon them. All kinds of schemes from a smudge to huge sheds are being tried with varying results. Stephen Powers, of Jacksonville, is at present secretary of this society.

COLD STORAGE FOR FRUIT FOR THE STATE FAIR.-Fruit for exhibition at the coming state fair (or the next annual meeting of this society, in December,) may be stored as heretofore, without expense to the shipper, with "The Produce Refrigerating Co.," 410 First Street North, Minneapolis. Shipping tags to be used for this purpose can be had on application to Sec'y Latham, at the society's office. Apples are not to be so plentiful this year as during some. others, and we shall all the more need the assistance of all our friends in keeping up the credit of the society on these two occasions Plan to send what you have to storage as fast as it matures, and it will be delivered to you in good condition and without expense at the proper time and place.

THE WOMEN'S AUXILIARY AT THE STATE FAIR.-The following notice appears in the new premium list of the Minnesota State Fair: "The State Federation of Woman's Clubs will maintain head. quarters upon the grounds during the fair, which will be in charge of committees appointed by the federation. The rooms will be kept open for the use of women, whether members or not, and all are cordially invited to make the place headquarters while visiting the state fair. Women from different parts of the great northwest can make appointments to meet each other here, where they will find a comfortable resting place. The management expects to arrange special exercises daily during the week, at which topics of general interest will be introduced. All who are interested in any subject for the advancement of women's work are invited to attend and present the same."

As the Women's Auxiliary affiliates with this federation, its mem bers will be especially welcome at these rooms.

THE HORTICULTURISTS DINE-VIEW OF WEST HALF OF ARMORY HALL, STATE AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL, AT SUMMER GATHERING OF THE STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. THE STRAWBERRY EXHIBITS SHOWN IN FRONTISPIECE IN

JUNE NUMBER OCCUPIED PART OF EAST HALF OF THE HALL.

(Southern Minnesota Horticultural Society.)

Fellow Members of the Southern Minnesota Horticultural Society:

Ladies and Gentlemen:-I am pleased to greet you at the close of another year's labor and present, as your presiding officer, a few thoughts bearing on the interests of our organization.

Each season brings its crop or lack of a crop of flowers and fruit. This we expect as a result of the dews and showers, the frost and sun, and all the favoring courses of nature. Each year, also, at the end of his term of service, it is expected that your president will afford some sort of a crop of suggestions, denominated an address, in return for the honor of standing and pleasure of standing at the head of an honorable organization.

It is taken quite as a matter of course that the yearly crop of flowers and fruit will reflect the conditi on, favorable or unfavorable, of the season. If the crop be poor quality only, we can sort out and save the best, but if it be also very scanty in quantity it may be a real misfortune. If the president's address is of poor quality, we never complain of its shortness. The less in quantity, the better we are pleased.

For reference to the past and present conditions of our society, we are fortunate in the fact that we have an efficient secretary from whom we may expect items in detail, leaving the writer to generalize and submit a few suggestions, possibly worthy of attention and effort.

One great need of our country is more fruit. One of the best recommendations of a country is to say that it is fairly good in fruit production, that fruit is grown both for home use and market. In many sections orchards of greater or less extent have been planted,

and where conducted with a reasonable degree of care and intelligence have been gratifying and renumerative to their owners. Every farm should have an orchard and a grove of forest trees, and we farmers should make an effort to raise fruit trees if for no other pur. pose than to beautify our homes and make them more attractive to our families and the neighborhood.

The future apple and plum crop will be a profitable one, as orchard growing has not kept pace with the growth of population. The practice of fruit eating is increasing, as is evidenced by the report that we pay out to foreign countries nearly twenty million dollars in gold annually for bananas alone.

There are many interesting experiments for the progressive fruit raiser, opportunities for studying, investigating and digging for ad vanced methods and ideas. Then let us look to the bright side of horticulture, let us raise a greater variety of fruits and pay less gold to foreign countries for rusty prunes and sandy currants.

The king of fruits, the apple, can be raised on every farm in southern Minnesota. The improvement and cultivation of fruit should engage the attention of the farmer. It is his duty to make himself acquainted with the laws of plant growth and to prevent disease and the ravages of insects so far as his opportunity will permit, so that he may apply the knowledge within his grasp to his own pecu. niary benefit and get a more exalted view of the real dignity of the calling which he is pursuing.

The field of the fruit grower is large, comprising in its area the orchards, vineyard, small fruits, shrubs and plants. It is full of variety and presents a multitude of objects and lessons calculated to call forth lofty ideas and sentiments and profound reverence for the great Architect who controls all.

While the entire population of the state is more or less interested in horticulture, the combined membership of the state and auxiliary societies is less than one to several thousand. These societies being the only representatives of an industry that beneficially affects all our people, not only financially but mentally, morally, and phy. sically, it is our duty to consider means for extending their scope and usefulness, with the hope of securing larger attendance and increased enrollment. It is an obvious fact that time yearly gathers its quota from our midst. To fill these gaps in the ranks of horticultural volunteers, we must, of necessity, enlist the interest of others. Past experiences suggest that the problem how to secure the attention of those whom we are desirous of sharing in our deliberations is not easy of solution. However, I suggest that we endeavor to attract the attentions of the young.

This, I believe, may be effected by encouraging the youth of both sexes to prepare essays on horticultural subjects, to be read at our state and auxiliary meetings, as a stimulus to awaken an interest in them in matters pertaining to horticulture, which, if successful, would result in a crop of amateurs that would lead to a more general and permanent interest throughout the state.

As a further incentive I suggest that premiums be offered for exhibits in the way of flowers and fruits, the competitors to be under twenty-one years of age. I believe the society can consistently and