REPORTS OF LOCAL SOCIETIES.

BROWN COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The prospects of this society are very encouraging. Meetings for the past year have been held monthly, and have been largely attended and were of more than usual interest.

The officers elected for 1878 are, J. M. Smith, president; Werden Reynolds, secretary.

FOUNTAIN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

This society was organized at New Lisbon, February 16, 1878, by the election of the following officers:

President, J. R. Winkler; Vice-president, John Parks; Secretary, M. L. Clark; Treasurer, John White; Executive committee, Rob't. Willin, Wm. Northcutt, C. J. Walker, John Heartson, J. M. Bradley, R. Moulton and Mrs. C. Spaulding. Meetings for discussion will be held at the houses of members, having orchards or engaged in growing small fruits.

FREEDOM HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

This society has at present 51 members and is on a good financial basis. The officers for the coming year are:

President, C. Hirschinger, Baraboo; Vice-president, J. M. Haines, North Freedom; Secretary, L. T. Albee, North Freedom; Treasurer, A. Bender, Baraboo.

GRAND CHUTE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The interest in horticultural subjects has been well sustained during the year. Quite frequent meetings have been held for reading of essays and discussions.

The officers are, G. G. Johnston, President; D. Huntley, Secretary; L. L. Randall, Treasurer.

JANESVILLE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

At the twelfth annual meeting of this society, the following officers were chosen:

President, F. S. Lawrence; Vice-president, G. J. Kellogg; Secretary, E. B. Heimstreet; Treasurer, D. E. Fifield; Executive committee, S. G. Williams, A. Hoskins, A. D. Wickham, I. B. Whiting, G. H. Williston, E. L. Dimock. The treasurer's report shows the society to be in a prosperous condition.

LEMONWEIR VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

This society has held during the year 21 meetings in different places, in connection with two June festivals and a fall exhibition. Its membership is over one hundred, and it is in good financial condition. The officers elected for the year 1878 are:

President, C. N. Holden, Mauston; Vice President, R. B. Sabin, Sparta; Secretary, C. M. Patter, Mauston; Treasurer, P. C. Colver, New Lisbon; Trus. tees, J. J. Kibbe, Tomah; Miss Garratt, Sparta; C. H. Grote, Mauston.

RICHLAND COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The present membership of this society is 40, with a balance in the treasury. Much has been done to encourage fruit culture, and the prospects are very encouraging for future usefulness. The officers elected for the coming year are:

President, Hon. J. B. McGrew, Richland Center; Recording Secretary, A. L. Hatch, Ithaca; Corresponding Secretary, J. Hamilton, Richland Center; Treasurer, John Winn, Richland Center.

SAUK COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

At the annual meeting of this society held January 26th, 1878, the following officers were elected:

President, Wm. Toole; Vice-President, J. W. Wood; Recording Secretary, Mrs. M. M. Davis; Corresponding Secretary, J. N. Savage; Treasurer, Wm. C. Warner; Executive Committee, H. H. Howlett, R. H. Strong, Mrs P. Chapman, Mrs. H. R. Ryan, Miss Mary Howlett.

ADDRESSES AND PAPERS,

READ BEFORE THE

WISCONSIN

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

AT THE

Annual Meeting held at Madison, February 4, 1878.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

J. M. SMITH, GREEN BAY.

Since

As

Members and friends of the State Horticultural Society: our last annual meeting, another year with its cares and labors, its joys and sorrows, has passed away. We meet again to commence the pleasant task of recounting to each other, as well as to the world, not only the success but also the horticultural trials and reverses that have crossed our paths during the past season. far as I know, there have been no deaths among our members during the year, and but comparatively little sickness. I sometimes fear that when we are recounting disasters and discouragements that beset some of our number in attempts to grow fruit, that we fail to appreciate as we should the one great blessing, which we, in common with others enjoy, viz: a vigorous and healthy climate; one that produces strong and healthy men and women; strong not only physically but mentally. In this respect our state is probably excelled by none on this continent. This ought to go far to counterbalance some of the disadvantages that we labor under. When we recount the failures among the apple trees, the curculio among the plums, etc. a stranger might almost imagine himself in a land where winter reigns supreme for three-fourths of the year, and an angry Providence frowns upon us during the balance, and if he should happen to be looking for a fruit growing region with some idea of engaging in the business, he would flee from the state as Lot did from Sodom.

The fact is, we do not claim for our state the credit that is really her due in respect to fruit growing. You will all agree

2-HORT. Soc.

with me in the statement that my native state (New Jersey) is considered, one of the best if not the best fruit growing district of it size in the eastern states. Yet, in many respects, I have no hesitation in saying that in growing some varieties of fruit, Wisconsin can far surpass her.. Some years since I made a short visit among my old friends there during the fruit growing season. I had scarcely arrived before I was told of an immense crop of strawberries that had just been picked from the grounds of an old friend, and I think, the largest grower of small fruits in the county. I visited him, and found that he was very much elated with what was regarded as an immense crop of strawberries. Upon inquiry, I found that they had picked ninety bushels per acre. It was the largest crop they had ever raised, and they have never equaled it since. There is no disputing the fact that it was a large crop for that section of the country. I laughed at them, and said to the wife, who had been an old schoolmate of mine: "Well Ab

by, I have repeatedly had at the rate of from two to three hundred bushels per acre, and if you will come and see me next season, and I do not show you a crop of more than three hundred bushels per acre, I will treat you to berries free of cost, pay your expenses both ways, and then own that we, western men, do not know as much as we thought we did." The following season we picked 3,571 quarts or 111 1-2 bushels from an exact quarter of an acre. I have some plants now that promise to do even better than that next season, but whether they will or not, remains to be

seen.

In regard to currants, we can easily beat any portion of the state. When we come to grapes, the odds are still more in our favor. A few days since I read an article written by a fruitgrower in the central and largest fruit growing district in the state, claiming that none of Rogers' hybrids were to be relied upon, except in very rare cases along the seashore, and that the Delaware was no better. In fact they had nothing better than the Concord upon which they could depend. I should like to have shown that gentleman our exhibition of grapes at Janesville last fall, or the still finer show of Delawares and Rogers' hybrids at Oshkosh, grown in the Fox river valley. The oldest grape-grower in Brown county has more than once told me that his grapes were the most certain crop upon his farm. Last fall he sold his entire crop to one man, at ten cents per pound. He picked over thirty pounds of choice Delawares from a single vine. The business is yet in its infancy, but enough has been done to fully demonstrate the fact that we have splendid grape-growing districts in this state. How extensive they are, remains yet to be seen.

The raspberry, the gooseberry and the cranberry are as much. at home with us as in any of the states, east or west. As regards the last named fruit, Wisconsin probably stands at the head of the list, with a fair prospect of distancing all competitors at no

distant day. We have but few cherries that can really be relied on. Large crops of apples have been grown in this state, and I shall not be surprised to see another large crop next season, and yet to call this a good apple-growing country would be a stretch of the imagination I will not venture upon. The fact is, that while we have some varieties that do well and seem to be perfectly reliable in certain districts, it is doubtful whether we have a single good variety that it is safe to recommend for all parts of the state. That such fruit will come in time, I have not the least doubt, but, in the meantime, we must patiently labor and experiment, and then as patiently await the results. Success will reward those who are the most intelligent and persevering in their efforts.

As to growing pears, I will, for the present, only boast of the little pear orchard belonging to one of my neighbors near Green Bay, and leave friend Kellogg to tell the balance of the story of pear growing in Wisconsin. If these views are correct, it will. readily be seen that we have not yet brought fruit growing to perfection. Indeed we are far from it. But a patient, intelligent and persevering industry, will in time accomplish wonders. To that end we must bring our best thoughts, our best efforts to bear, until our state shall be as favorably known for her apples, as she now is for some of the smaller fruits.

In preparing for this convention an attempt was made to direct more attention to the subject of adorning and beautifying the farmer's home; and more than the usual number of papers will have a bearing in that direction.

You have all doubtless noticed that the grounds around many of our farmers residences are utterly destitute of trees, shrubbery, fruits, flowers, in fact, of everything that adds to, or makes a pleasant home. A house alone does not constitute a home. Build an expensive one if you choose, set it on a commanding height, from which you can view the lakes and rivers, the hills and valleys of the surrounding country, but if the grounds about it are destitute of lawns and trees, if neither, shrubbery, fruits or flowers are among its outward adornings, it may answer well for an observatory, but I would not accept it as a gift if it must remain in that condition. Whenever you see a farm house of this description, you will be very likely to find that the farm is for sale. But when you find a farm house, small and cheap though it may be, that is half hidden by trees and shrubbery, with a pretty lawn in its front, and plenty of fruit and flowers near by, you may generally conclude that it is not for sale, or if so, that the purchaser must pay handsomely for it with those improvements. There is nothing that will sooner arrest this almost insane mania for changing homes every few years, than to get our farmers to adorn them with fruits, flowers and trees. When this is once done, or even fairly commenced, many a tie is added to the homestead which