great pleasure at
this time, standing in the place of my friend, Mr. Underwood, who is
absent, to propose the following names to you which have been
recommended by the executive board for this honor. There are five of
them, the names are: John Bisbee, of Madelia; Charles Haralson, our
superintendent at Excelsior; Mr. F. W. Kimball, of Waltham; Mr. John R.
Cummins, of Minneapolis, and Mr. S. H. Drum, of Owatonna.

Mr. Bisbee has undertaken and is carrying on one of the largest
experiments in seedling apples in the Northwest. He seems to be a very
quiet member among us, but he is one of the working members who are
doing the things that the society most needs.

I do not need to tell you anything about the work of Charles Haralson,
the superintendent of our fruit-breeding farm at Zumbra Heights. His
work has approved itself to us all so much that I think he really
deserves the statement that was made by one of our older members that he
has outdone Burbank. He certainly has for this part of the country.

Mr. F. W. Kimball, a very dear personal friend of mine, has been
carrying on experiments in orcharding for the past twenty-five years
about, in the neighborhood of Austin, Minnesota, and has now removed to
Waltham. His experiments there in top-working have been among the most
useful and among the largest that have been undertaken in any part of
the state. He perhaps deserve the same reputation in our state that our
friend, Mr. Philips, has in Wisconsin. I do not want to say this to
disparage anybody else, but he has certainly made a very large and very
valuable addition to our knowledge of the value of top-working.

Mr. John R. Cummins, of Minneapolis, whom we have with us this morning,
is one who has been a very persistent experimenter in all lines. I
remember particularly going to his place some ten or fifteen years ago
and going over the remarkable collection of ornamental trees and plants
that he was growing, many of which I did not think it was possible to
grow at Albert Lea, and there he was succeeding with them and
developing them at a point 100 miles north of us. We certainly owe him
a deal of credit for his perseverance and his enterprise. We are glad
that he is with us today.

Mr. S. H. Drum, of Owatonna, is one who has also been one of our most
faithful members, whose experiments have been in fruits, and he has
brought great encouragement to us in the southern part of Minnesota. He
has now moved to Owatonna