IN MEMORIAM. Mr. Harris. Mr. President, it seems to me appropriate at this time that some action should be taken with reference to the matter of the death of the Hon. Marshall P Wilder, although from the lateness of the hour I fear we can not do the subject justice. As a member of the Committee on Obituary I have drafted some resolutions. The last fifty years is marked as the period of the greatest improvement and progress in horticulture and kindred arts and sciences recorded in the history of the world, and most of these improvements have been instituted and developed through the disinterested labors of men born since, or about the beginning of, the present century, who have made their lives a blessing to humanity, and crowned themselves with unfading laurels. One by one these remarkable men of the age are laying down their armor and departing, to join the greater number in that happy realm, of which that first "Eden" was only an inspiration. Within a few years we have mourned the departure of a Warder, Kirtland, Bryant, Vick, Downing and many others, whose wellordered lives, devoted to the public good in the development of horticulture in our country, had earned names as useful men of their time, that caused their death to be regarded as more than a national loss. And now we have received the sad message informing us that the greatest and best, the acknowledged leader of them all, the great and good man, the venerable Marshall P. Wilder, the president of the American Pomological Society, has gone over to the other shore and joined that band of worthies. Mr Wilder was a man who was a model worthy of being patterned after. I have read his addresses and articles published in various papers throughout the country, and have never seen a word from his pen, or listened to a word that he has spoken, but that seemed to me to be words of wisdom and words fitly spoken. He was a man of the greatest charity, who ranked far above the great majority of his fellows; he seemed to have a boundless love for everybody. It is said of him that there was no man so objectionable but he could see some good in him and point it out to others. He was one of the most remarkable of men in presiding in horticultural conventions. He was an honorary life member of our Society and seemed to have a fatherly care over it. We have frequently received communications from. him and he has always spoken encouraging words and seemed to take a deep interest in our work. Marshall Pickney Wilder died at his home in Roxbury, Mass., Dec. 16, 1886. He was born at Rindge, N. H., Sept. 22, 1798. Of his early history we learn that he commenced attending the public school when four years old; at twelve he entered the New Ipswich academy where he remained one year and then pursued his studies for three years under a private tutor. At the age of sixteen his father gave him the choice of preparing himself for the life of a farmer, merchant or professional man. He chose the first and spent the next few years upon his father's farm, and among the lakes and forests of his native state where he laid the foundation for the enduring health to which he was greatly indebted for the mental and physical energy that has distinguished his subsequent career, and there he imbibed inspirations and a love for everything beautiful in nature, that had much to do in moulding his long and useful life. In 1825 he removed to Boston, Mass., and engaged in the mercantile business, in which he amassed a comfortable fortune and attained a high position as a business man, and no man in our country has been honored with a greater number of important trusts. But it is in the pomological and horticultural world where he was most widely and favorably known and his name has been synonymous with. progress in horticulture and promology throughout North America for more than half a century. His name is a household word in every home in our land where good fruits are appreciated, and it has been truthfully said of him that he was one who by his industry and determination has not only conferred lasting benefits upon his own country but has by his careful researches in hybridizing and selections in fruit culture laid the horticulturists of all nations under heavy obligations. We read of him in 1829 as one of the prominent members of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and ever after as one of its most zealous and efficient members, and for many years its president. He was its president in 1844 when it laid the corner stone of Horticultural Hall, which is believed to be the first building ever erected by a horticultural society for its exhibitions. In 1848, as president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, he headed a circular addressed to all the horticultural societies and leading pomologists throughout the country, calling a convention in New York, which was held in October, and re sulted in the organization of the American Pomological Society, of which he was chosen the first president, and has been reelected at every subsequent meeting, and held the office until the hour of his death. To him the State Agricultural College at Amherst owes its existence, and every society or movement for the promotion of agriculture or horticulture throughout our country has received his kindest sympathy and been strengthened by his wise councils. In his addresses to the American Pomological Society he has set up a lighthouse and flung a banner to the breeze from its highest tower, upon which is inscribed in letters of light the method for the sure solution of the fruit question adapted for all lands: "Plant the most mature and perfect seeds of the most hardy, vigorous and valuable varieties; as a shorter process insuring more certain and happy results, cross and hybridize our finest kinds for still greater excellence. Go on; go on while you live, and when we are gone others will rise up to chant our old song: Plant the best seeds of all your best fruit, The beautiful fruits you may create; Fruits which perchance your name may enshrine The following beautiful paragraph occurs at the conclusion of his last address to the American Pomological Society at Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1885: "Fruits are the overflow of nature's bounty-gems of the skies which are dropped down to beautify the earth, charm the sight, gratify the taste and minister to the enjoyment of life, and the more we realize this the more shall we appreciate the Divine goodness to us and the duty of providing them for others." May these parting words of our wise and noble friend be indelibly imprinted upon our memory and stimulate us to go forth planting orchards and gardens that shall be fitting and enduring monuments to his memory. The father of American pomology lived long beyond the age commonly allotted to man, and continued his life work to its close. Sadly do we mourn his loss and cherish his name as one of the most useful men of his time, a name that shall be handed down all through the coming ages, honored and revered. Resolved, That the members of The Minnesota State Horticultural Society have learned with deep and sincere regret of the death of the aged and highly respected honorary member of this Society, Hon. Marshall P. Wilder. Resolved, That the members of this Society appreciate the life-long labors of Mr. Wilder, his devotion to the development of pomology in our country and his thorough earnestness in endeavoring to awaken a higher appreciation of trees, fruits and flowers among the people, and we commend his example to all borticulturists of future generations. Resolved, That we offer our deep sympathy to his friends in this their great bereavement, and to the American Pomological Society, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and other societies of which he was an honored member, and that as a token of our profound respect for his memory, these proceedings be entered on our records and copies of our transactions be forwarded to his. family, to the secretaries of the above societies and to the secretary of the New England Historical Genealogical Society. The resolutions were unanimously adopted, and on motion the meeting then adjourned till Wednesday morning. MORNING SESSION. SECOND DAY, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 19, 1887. The meeting was called to order Wednesday morning at 9:30 by President Elliot. The president stated the first thing in order would be the report of the Seedling Commission. REPORT ON SEEDLING FRUITS. By J. S. Harris, La Crescent. Our first official visit was made at Granite Falls, June 28, 1886, where we found a live and strong county horticultural society with O. E. Saunders, president, and A. B. Regester, secretary. We enjoyed the pleasure of joining them in their summer meeting and small fruit show. The meeting was held in Regester's grove, was well attended and a success. Addresses were given on evergreen planting, strawberry growing, birds, insects, etc., and the different subjects were pretty thoroughly discussed. Another interesting feature of the meeting was individual reports by the members upon the trees planted the past season. Strawberries recommended for cultivation were the Crescent and Wilson, and one speaker said if they could not succeed with these we had better let strawberries alone. The strawberries, raspberries, currants and gooseberries upon exhibition were very superior, and all of these fruits do well here when mulched and given clean cultivation, except there is considerable complaint about the Doolittle Raspberry blighting badly. An examination of the plants failed to reveal the cause, unless it came from injury to the canes by the severity of the winter. If that be the cause, covering with prairie hay might obviate the difficulty. A goodly number of ladies were in attendance; they brought along well-filled lunch baskets the contents of which |