makes it dearer to the hearts of the farmer and all his family. This was recently forcibly illustrated to me in the sad case of an acquaintance of mine, who, being compelled by reverses of fortune to give up a home made beautiful by taste and care in prosperous days, remarked to me with quivering voice, "It is hard, yet I do not mind it so much on my own account, but my wife has sown the grass on this lawn, set these shrubs and trees, planted and cultivated these flowers for years, with her own hand, and it will be hard, hard for her and the children to leave them." It is gratify. ing to know that young as our state is, in beautiful homes and surroundings it will compare favorably with many older states; yet much remains to be done, and efforts in this direction will not be labor in vain.

Learning that Prof. Thomas Taylor, of the Agricultural Department at Washington, had been for a number of years investigating the subject of fire blight, an effort was made to secure his attendance at this meeting, in the hope that we might profit by his observations, but our efforts were unsuccessful, and we are still left to our own investigations and resources. It is not surprising that there should be a great variety of opinions among our members upon a subject where all confess themselves to be more or less in doubt as to the cause, and still more so as regards a remedy. Still, it is pleasant to note that, while there are radical differences of opinion on this and other subjects that come before us almost every year, the members of our society discuss them with candor and dignity, and I have never known them to manifest any of that bitter and sarcastic temper, or the dogmatic and overbearing spirit sometimes seen in other societies. It is to be hoped that, however radical may be the difference of opinion, the same polite and gentlemanly bearing will continue between us. As long as it does continue, the duties of your presiding officer will be regarded, not as a burden to be endured, but as a pleasant task, anticipated with pleasure, and looked back upon with pleasant memories.

To the ladies who, for some years past, have annually brightened our meetings by their presence, and added to their interest and value by their papers, the society owes much. It is no exaggeration to say that some of their papers are among the most valuable ones in our volumes of transactions.

The State Agricultural Society, last winter, invited us to hold a joint convention with them. The invitation was accepted, and we think the result was satisfactory to all. This year the invitation has been repeated and accepted. We hope that the joint convention will be pleasant and agreeable to the members and friends of both societies. Gentlemen, our work is a noble one, and worthy of our best and most untiring efforts. Perhaps there are other branches connected with the cultivation of the soil that add more to the national wealth than horticulture; but we may safely say that no

other does as much to make our farmers' home pleasant and attractive. If we could but induce all of our farmers to set even a few trees for shade and ornament, a few more for fruit, a few vines for small fruits, a few flowers for pleasure, and then carefully watch and guard them, what a splendid work it would be. It is true, that would be but the beginning; still the hardest part would then be accomplished, and the work of adding to, and making them more pleasant and beautiful would go on until our Wisconsin homes would become so cheerful, and so happy, that her sons and her daughters whenever and wherever they might roam, whether in our own or in foreign lands, would ever remember with a thrill of joy and delight that one beautiful spot was theirs; and though they might wander far, and linger long, still they would surely return at last to settle down amid the vines that cling around their own homes, to rest beneath the shade of the trees they had themselves planted; they would enjoy the fruits and the flowers they had reared with tender care; they would add to, and continue to beautify and adorn, until our state might vie in beauty with those of earth's fairest climes, and in happiness, be all that is allowed to erring mortals here below.

SECRETARY'S REPORT.

The passing year has again brought around the time of our annual conference, and we have assembled once more to examine its record, consider its lessons and profit by each others' experience. Each recurring season seems to bring additional evidence of the capabilities of our climate for extremes, and consequently more clearly demonstrates the difficulties with which we have to contend in the cultivation of fruit. There have been but few seasons in the past history of fruit culture in this state, in which some new combination of circumstances has not been developed, having a direct influence on its success or failure. A careful observation of these peculiarities and combination of elements of the seasons and the attendant results, must lead to the discovery of many facts of interest and value. Is it not for our own interest, as well as our duty, to make these observations, and put these facts on record for our guidance in the future, as well as for that of those who are to follow us? Much has already been done in this direction in a general way, but it seems to be desirable that something more definite and explicit should be attempted, and a more complete record of climatic influences and changes, at many different places should be kept, and their direct effect on the fruitfulness and vitality of plants and trees should be noted. Almost every season we see marked exceptions to the general experience

in fruit culture, sometimes affecting a single species or even variety, at others, the whole class of fruits, doubtless owing to varied local conditions. What these conditions are, careful study and observation will enable us to determine, and once known, will help us to so regulate variety, location and culture, as to secure the necessary conditions, or at least, so as to modify existing ones and give a more reasonable hope of success.

The results of the past season have not generally been as favora able as was expected, and have been marked by a great diversity in different parts of the state. With the exception of in a few favorable locations, the apple crop was a failure; currants, hitherto regarded as the only sure fruit crop we had, were entirely cut off. In some sections raspberries bore well; in many others the bushes were killed down or injured, so as to greatly lessen their yield. Taken throughout the state, the crop was not over onehalf of the usual average. Blackberries were entirely wanting, even the wild blackberry bushes of the woods were killed to the ground. In many nurseries, young stock, and that too of the varieties regarded as hardy, suffered much injury; in others, even the tender varieties escaped unharmed. The same diversity was also experienced with ornamental vines and shrubbery. Reports from various sections state, that in yield and quality grapes never did better, while others complain that although the vines were protected in the usual manner, they were more or less injured. In some instances the vines were entirely killed; in others many of the buds and fruit spurs were destroyed or injured so as to materially diminish the yield of fruit.

The scarcity of the apple crop may, in part, be attributed to exhaustion caused by overbearing the previous year; but many trees, in favorable locations, which have heretofore borne annually, and where the fruit buds seem to have been well developed in the fali, were entirely barren. Mr. E. G. Mygatt, of Kenosha county, writes that in his orchard fruit buds, apparently well developed, were winter-killed; something he has not seen before in 25 years' experience with fruit.

The main features of the previous season which may have contributed to these results, are an unusual amount of rainfall from May to October; averaging over four inches a month, causing a large and late, though apparently well matured growth of wood, but which may have left the fruit buds without sufficient vitality to endure the extremes of the following winter. The temperature of the fall was generally mild and higher than the average, up to the last of November, when severe cold weather set in. From the 26th of November, in 66 consecutive days, there were only four in which the maximum temperature was, at any time, above the freezing point. The maximum for December was 38°; the minimum, -22°, and the mean for the whole month, 11° 1'; for January the maximum was 41°, the minimum, -16°, and the mean

12° 9'.

This was followed by the other extreme in February, when the maximum was 52°, the minimum 15°, and the mean for 50°, the whole month was above 32°. In March the maximum was the minimum – 1°, and the mean of the month only a little over 23°. Many attribute the injuries done to the warm weather of February, followed by the cold in March and the frosts in April. But a limited examination of a few trees in this city seem to indicate that the fruit buds were injured before the middle of February.

Much attention has lately been given throughout the country to grape rot and mildew. These diseases have been so prevalent in some sections as to threaten the total destruction of grape culture unless some remedy can be found. The amount of damage done in this state has been very light compared with other sections of the country, but has been rather more than usual. The few instances of grape rot I have seen, appear to have been wholly confined to cases where there were already an enfeebled condition of the vine. The worst instance of it was where the vine appeared to have made a strong and vigorous growth the fore part of the season, and the fruit had set well and was about half matured in size, but in pruning, the canes had been cut back within two or three buds of the fruit, and most of the leaves left had been struck with sun scald and had fallen off, and those remaining were feeble and sickly in appearance. Young vines, and also old ones in the same yard where the growth was strong and vigorous, were untouched. There seems to be as great a diversity of opinion as to the cause, as in relation to that of the fire blight. Among others presented are electricity, fungoid growth, the germ theory of all diseases, the loss of vitality of the vine; the work of insects, phylloxera, etc. Whatever may be the cause, it is undoubtedly true that anything which will promote a strong, vital growth will tend to ward off the attacks of this disease, and that neglect or bad culture will favor its development. As this appears to be one of the coming evils with which we shall have to contend, the attention of all who are engaged in grape culture should be directed to it, to discover at the outset, if possible, its cause and remedy. There are two things in connection with our system of summer pruning, as commonly practiced, which seem very objectionable and likely to lead to conditions especially fitted for the attacks of disease; one cutting back too close to the fruit, as mentioned above; the other, allowing the vines to make a large growth of leaf and wood, and then, when the whole plant is full of activity, its cells crowded with sap, cutting off what we deem superfluous growth, sometimes two, three or four feet or more; growth is checked and the superabundant sap lies dormant in the cells, injuring the vitality of leaf, root and branch.

Notwithstanding the unfavorable year, the exhibition of fruit at our state fair was very good, and a great surprise to all, both as

to quantity and quality. Under the circumstances, it was a great success, and was owing entirely to extra pains in collecting on the part of a few who were anxious to have the horticultural products of the state worthily represented. The thanks of the society are especially due to our superintendent, for his great diligence and untiring efforts to promote the success of the exhibition and the comfort of the members of the society in attendance. The whole number of entries made was 548; of these, 214 were by professional cultivators of fruit; 142, by nonprofessional cultivators; six of nursery stock; 50, by professional cultivators of flowers; 135, by nonprofessional cultivators. The whole amount of premiums awarded was $605; of this amount, $193 was for fruit, to professional cultivators; $166, to nonprofessional cultivators; $89, flowers, professional; $147, flowers, nonprofessional; $10 to the Milton Horticultural Society for best collection of all kinds.

The law recommended by your society at its last annual meeting, in relation to the collection of statistics on the number of acres in orchards, timber and cranberries in our state, was passed by the legislature and partial returns were made in accordance therewith. The fcotings from 49 counties of the number of acres in orchards give a total of 139,891 acres; but this is doubtless far from correct. A mistake was evidently made in the returns for Washington county, which is reported as having 50,095 acres. Dodge and Racine counties have each reported over 16,000 acrse; Green nearly 6,000, and Dane, Walworth and Waukesha over 4,000 each. The returns in relation to timber lands are much more incomplete, as there are no reports from 14 counties, mostly in the northern portion of the state. The footings of 46 counties gives 4,090,226 acres. The acreage of cultivated cranberries in the 27 counties reported is 17,665.

In this connection I would repeat the suggestion of last year, of the advisability of adopting some plan by which we can secure more complete and reliable statistics pertaining to the horticultural products of the state. Much benefit would be derived from full, yearly reports of this kind. Beside calling attention at home and abroad to our resources, giving the amount and pecuniary value of what is raised, would serve to develop still further our capabilities, by encouraging others to engage in fruit culture as a business, and by leading to a more careful observation of all the conditions and principles on which success depends. Cannot our plan of fruit districts for observation be extended so as to include this work?

Our committee of observation find much difficulty, at present, in getting information from different parts of their districts, on which to base their reports to the society. It is impossible for most of them to give the time, or to be to the expense of an extended tour of observation, and consequently their reports must be general in character, meager in detail, and limited to a small