At the annual election the old officers whose terms had expired were all re-elected without opposition, and later the secretary was re-elected by the executive board for the coming year, so that no change whatever was made in the management of the society. J. M. Underwood, being absent in the south, was nevertheless re-elected by the board as its chairman for the coming year.
A pleasant event of this gathering was the presentation of a handsome gold watch and chain to the secretary, a memento in connection with the termination of his twenty-fifth year as secretary of the society, which expression of appreciation on the part of the members it may well be believed was fully appreciated by the recipient.
The hall was brilliantly decorated with the national colors, which had never been used before at any of our annual gatherings. What can be more beautiful than the stars and stripes entwined with the colors of foliage and flower. Never has our place of meeting shown so brightly or been more enjoyed than in this favorable environment.
During the meeting upon the recommendation of the executive board there were five names by the unanimous vote of the society placed upon the honorary life membership roll of the society, as follows: John Bisbee, Madelia; J. R. Cummins, Minneapolis; Chas. Haralson, Excelsior; F. W. Kimball, Waltham, and S. H. Drum, Owatonna.
The meeting closed with seventy-five members in the hall by actual count at 4:30, and we certainly hated to say the parting word to those whom we earnestly hope to gather with again a year hence.
What can we say about the crowning event of our meeting, the annual banquet? Two hundred and two members sat down together and fraternized in a most congenial way. Gov. W. S. Hammond was the speaker of the evening and greatly enjoyed. All the other numbers on the program were on hand to perform their parts. Here follows the program and you can judge for yourself. Why don't you come and enjoy this most entertaining event of the meeting?
PROGRAM.
Prof. N. E. Hansen, Toastmaster.
| Grace | Rev. J. Kimball, Duluth |
| Opening Song | Trafford N. Jayne, Minneapolis |
| Why Wake Up the Dreamers—Aren't They Getting Their Share? | Prof. E. G. Cheyney, University Farm, St. Paul |
| Reading | Miss Marie Bon, Minneapolis |
| What Joy in the Garden, Provided | E. E. Park, Minneapolis |
| Every True Horticulturist Has a Private Rainbow with a Pot of Gold at the End | Mrs. T. A. Hoverstad, Minneapolis |
| Song | s. Grace Updegraff Bergen, Minneapolis |
| The Joy of Service | Gov. W. S. Hammond |
| What Care I While I Live in a Garden | A. G. Long, Minneapolis |
| Song | Trafford N. Jayne, Minneapolis |
| Never Too Late to Mend—Unless You Are "80," | A. J. Philips, West Salem, Wis. |
| Reading | Miss Marie Bon |
| Right Living and Happiness—You Can't Have One Without the Other, | T. E. Archer, St. Paul |
| Closing Song | Trafford N. Jayne, Minneapolis |
"Don'ts" Issued to Prevent Forest Fires.—1. Don't throw your match away until you are sure it is out.
2. Don't drop cigarette or cigar butts until the glow is extinguished.
3. Don't knock out your pipe ashes while hot or where they will fall into dry leaves or other inflammable material.
4. Don't build a camp fire any larger than is absolutely necessary.
5. Don't build a fire against a tree, a log, or a stump, or anywhere but on bare soil.
6. Don't leave a fire until you are sure it is out; if necessary smother it with earth or water.
7. Don't burn brush or refuse in or near the woods if there is any chance that the fire may spread beyond your control, or that the wind may carry sparks where they would start a new fire.
8. Don't be any more careless with fire in the woods than you are with fire in your own home.
9. Don't be idle when you discover a fire in the woods; if you can't put it out yourself, get help. Where a forest guard, ranger or state fire warden can be reached, call him up on the nearest telephone you can find.
10. Don't forget that human thoughtlessness and negligence are the causes of more than half of the forest fires in this country, and that the smallest spark may start a conflagration that will result in loss of life and destruction of timber and young growth valuable not only for lumber but for their influence in helping to prevent flood, erosion, and drought.—U. S. Dept. Agri., Forest Service.
Award of Premiums, Annual Meeting, 1915, Minnesota State Horticultural Society.
The list of awards following will give in full detail the awards made in connection with the fruit exhibit:
VEGETABLES.
| Carrots | Chas. Krause, | Merriam Park | Second | 2.00 |
| Celeriac | " | " | Third | 1.00 |
| Cabbage | J. T. Olinger, | Hopkins | Second | 2.00 |
| Carrots |
|