THE SOCIAL ELEMENT AT OUR ANNUAL MEETING.—­Those of our members who attended the last annual meeting could not have failed to note the large proportion of ladies in attendance at these meetings, not only at the one managed by the Woman’s Auxiliary, but also at every other meeting during the four days session.  You may be surprised to learn that approximately one-third of those who registered as purposing to attend the meeting belonged to the gentler sex, and the proportion in attendance was somewhere in that neighborhood.  This is one of the delightful features of our annual gathering which is steadily increasing.  More and more are the ladies attending our meetings, and in larger number are they becoming members of the association aside from any relation they may sustain as wives or daughters to those who are already members.  This movement should be in every way encouraged, and we hope another year to be able to offer still more attractive accommodations in this direction.  In planning for a new building for the society, this feature of our work should not by any means be lost sight of.  I believe that very few organizations of this kind can boast so large an interest on the part of the ladies in the various branches of its work.

DID YOU SELECT EVERBEARING STRAWBERRIES AS YOUR PREMIUM?—­An altogether unexpected demand has been made upon us for the Everbearing Strawberries the society is offering as plant premiums to its members this spring.  Probably twice as many plants have been called for as can be furnished in the amount asked for.  Under the “right of substitution” which the society reserves in the matter of its plant premiums, probably plant premium No. 16 will be substituted for Nos. 17 and 18 if matters turn out as now appears, though the number of plants sent will be more than is offered under No. 16.  As this everbearing strawberry, originated at the fruit-breeding farm, No. 1017, is a very prolific plant maker, a dozen plants, if the runners are allowed to grow, will make plants enough to set out a bed of them next year, large enough in all probability for family use.

In the matter of June-bearing strawberry No. 3, offered as premium, there is undoubtedly stock enough to fill all orders including those asked for for which money has been sent, and we are in hopes that orders for raspberry No. 4 can be filled in their entirety, though it may be necessary to return money which has been sent for additional plants.

In this distribution all members will be treated exactly alike and altogether in accordance with the conditions noted in connection with the list of premiums as found on page six of the society folder and on the inside front cover page of the magazine.

[Illustration:  VIEW IN FRUIT-BREEDING GREENHOUSE, STATE COLLEGE, BROOKINGS, S.D.

This is Prof.  N. E. Hansen’s laboratory, where he works out his problems in cross-breeding. (See opposite page.)]

While it is not the intention to publish anything in this magazine that is misleading or unreliable, yet it must be remembered that the articles published herein recite the experience and opinions of their writers, and this fact must always be noted in estimating their practical value.

THE MINNESOTA HORTICULTURIST