but touched his wife's shoulder, and she got up. She thought
she had to. He started, "Ladies and gentlemen, this thing was forced on
me. (Laughter.)" So this was kind of forced upon me. I know that your
program is full so I will not detain you any longer. My time is
tomorrow, and I will take you through my garden tomorrow. (Applause.)

The President: We are all pleased to have Mr. Rasmussen with us, and we
hope we will hear from him often during the deliberations of the
meeting. I was pleased indeed to see so many present this forenoon.
Secretary Latham thought he had plenty of room for all who might attend,
but I don't think there was a vacant chair here this forenoon. I was
pleased indeed to note so many new faces, so many young men present. You
are the people we want to see. The older men have always contributed and
done their part and have made these meetings a grand success, but it
will soon devolve upon the younger men of this society to take their
places. We want you to help them at these meetings, and I was glad that
you did so this forenoon. We hope that the young men will feel at home
and that they will continue to take part, that they will ask questions
and tell us about their successes and their failures, and I hope the
older members will help make it pleasant for these young men.

We will take up the subject of fruits this afternoon, and I am now going
to call on a plum specialist, a man that we look to to tell us about the
plum troubles in this state, Mr. Dewain Cook, who will tell us about the
"Plums We Already Have and Plums That Are on the Way--the Brown Rot a
Controlling Factor," Mr. Dewain Cook, of Jeffers, Minnesota. (See
index.)

Discussion.

The President: We have heard of some of the troubles of those that plant
plum trees. The next speaker will probably tell us how to meet those
troubles, how to combat the plum pocket fungus. We are fortunate to have
with us a scientific man that makes a study of these subjects. I refer
to Professor Stakman, of the University Farm, St. Paul. "The Control and
Cure of Brown Rot, etc.," by Prof. E. C. Stakman. (See index.)

Discussion.

The President: I will now call on Mr. C. A. Pfeiffer, of Winona, to talk
to us on "The Surprise Plum a Success." (See index.)

Discussion.

The President: "Thirty Years in Raspberries," by a gentleman that knows
how to make money by the raising of raspberries, Mr. Gust. Johnson, of
Minneapolis. (See index.)

Discussion.