Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

GEORGE H. SMITH,

Assembly.

OF THE

WISCONSIN

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

INCLUDING

ADDRESSES AND PAPERS PRESENTED,

AND

PROCEEDINGS AT THE SUMMER AND WINTER MEETINGS

OF THE YEAR 1880-81.

F. W. CASE, SECRETARY.

VOL. XI.

MADISON, WIS.:

DAVID ATWOOD, STATE PRINTER.

1881.

[blocks in formation]

Nev 1 529 777

ta sotate His

EXCHANGE

REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR.

To His Excellency, WILLIAM E. SMITH,

Governor of the State of Wisconsin:

It is with much pleasure that, in behalf of the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, I comply with the provisions of the legislative enactment by which the society was reorganized, in presenting to you the following report of its proceedings for the past year. The volume herewith transmitted forms the eleventh in the series of the society's published proceedings, and comprises a full statement of the financial transactions of the society during the year 1880; accounts of the meetings held; reports of the local societies and various papers on practical subjects pertaining to the Agricultural and Horticultural interests of the State.

6.

The past year has been one of remarkable success in the products of the garden and orchard. In fact, it is generally spoken of, and will long be remembered as the best fruit year the State has ever seen." The great cause of complaint was not lack of production, but excess; such an abundant yield that the prices realized were very low, not only below the rate of profit. able production, but, in many parts of the State, not sufficient to repay the trifling cost of properly harvesting and marketing the crop, so that much fruit went to waste for want of a paying demand. The fruit culturists of the State have had to meet many and great difficulties in the past, but this is the first year in which they have encountered the discouragement of too great success. Such abundant yields may tend to dishearten those specialists, who by better acquaintance with the principles of culture, and by giving their whole time to the business can secure moderate crops, and consequent high prices in seasons of general failure or scarcity, but to the masses, who must depend mainly on favoring seasons and nature's care and culture, they are blessings that cannot come too often. That they may be the rule rather than the exception is an event much to be desired.

The plan adopted by the society four years since, of uniting with local societies in holding meetings for exhibition of fruits and flowers and the consideration of practical questions in horticulture, has been continued the past season and was attended with very gratifying results. Two of these meetings were held, and a number of the members of the society took part in meetings held for discussions alone. The encouragement thus given and received, the interest awakened in places where these meetings have been held in previous years is still very apparent, and induces the society to desire not only to follow up this work, but to increase their efforts in this direction, and to join in holding fall and winter meetings in various parts of the state, where

984217

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »