' a *a4[aTT .. A. TRANSACTIONS OF THE T^ris o o isrsi isr 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. XL MADISON. WIS.: DAVID ATWOOD, STATE PRINTER. 1881. It REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR. Tj His Excellency, William E. Smith, Governor of the State of Wisconsin: It is with much pleasure that, in behalf of the Wisconsin State Horti- cultural Society, I comply with the provisions of the legislative enactment by which the society was reorganized, in presenting to you the following re- port 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 1830; 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. The past year has been one of remarkable success in the products of the ga-den and orchard. In fact, it is generally spoken of, and will long be re- membered 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 culturist3 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 aud 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 so- cieties in holding meetings for exhibition of fruits and flowers and the con- sideration 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 meet- ings held for discussions alone. The encouragement thus given and received, the interest awakened in places where these meetings have been held in pre- vious 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 •1 IViscoxsix State IIokticultueal Society. the citizens take sufficient interest in horticultural matters to make the neces- sary arrangements. "While the work of the society is much the same from year to year, and the subjects presented and discussed at its meetings are largely tuch as have been considered time and again, the experience of each season gives new light on these old questions, which is of much practical value to all. In addition to this, each season brings out new facts in regard to methods and results, new lessons in experience, which duly considered will prove valuable in advancing the interests of horticulture. Through a larger attendance at our regular meetings, and the greater numbers reached at the meetings held with local societies, and the more extended circulation of our Reports, the work of the society reaches each year many new comers and even old settlers, who are in need of information on these points, and to whom what may seem trite and commonplace to those longest in the field is new, and of much practical value. The members of the society are encour- aged to believe that in this and other ways the beneficial influence of their labors is steadily increasing, and that it will contribute much, not only to the financial prosperity of the state, but also to the happiness and contentment of its citizens by increasing the attractiveness and comfort of their homes. The value of the sanitary, aesthetic, educational and social influence of horticulture in its various branches has been largely overlooked, and it has been ju 'ged as a pursuit solely by the immediate pecuniary results derived from it. This is truly an important consideration, and it has been, and still is, the desire and aim of the society, as far as it is in its power, to so develop the horticultural interests of the state as to make them a source of revenue which will add material wealth to those engaged in them ; but we feel that ttere are other important considerations which should be taken into the ac- count; other benefits to be derived from horticulture, of greater value even than those represented by dollars and cents; that the fruit of the strawberry bed and of the orchard consumed in the producer's family, not to the extent of necessity alone, but to the fullest desire, gives better returns than when embodied in coin or greenbacks; that money judiciously expended in beau- tifying the door-yard, the farm and public grounds, in a 'orning the home sur- roundings and adding to the attraction and comforts of the home life, is a safer and better investment than when risked in business speculation or put into bank deposits. On account of this conviction, more than the usual amount of space has been given in this volume to the consideration of ques- tions calculated to draw attention to this subject, thus, we hope, addiDg to its interest and practical value. We trust that in this, and in all its labors, the society will continue to meet with your approval and will have your co- operation, and that of all who are interested in horticulture and the gen- eral prosperity of the State. llespeclf lly submitted in behalf of the Sxiety. F. W. CASE, Secretary. TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page. Report to the Governor 3 List of Officers 7 List of Members 8 Fruit and Timber Lists 10 Act of Organization 12 Constitution and By-Laws 13 Laws Rebating to Pubbication of Society's Transactions 15 Law Rebating to Tree Bebts 15 Proceedings at Summer Meetings 17-70 Report of Baraboo Meeting 17-24 Native Foliage Plants and Vines 18 Premiums Awarded at Baraboo 23 Report of Green Bay Meeting 25-70 Address of "Welcome 25 Farmer's Orchard, D. Huntley 29 Horticultural Progress, Mr. Stone 36 Psychology of Country Life, Mrs. Lewis 38 Tree Planting, Mrs. Kerr 44 What Horticulture Should Do for Our Homes, J. S. Stickney 49 Object Lessons from Life, Mrs. Forward 53 Our Children, Mrs. Arnold 59 Premiums Awarded 68 Meeting for Discussion at State Fair 70-75 Transactions at Annuab Meeting 75-136 Fruit Lists 82 Secretary's Report 89 Treasurer's Report 102 Election of Officers 103 Reports of District Committees 104-120 First District 104 Second District 106 Third District 108 Fourth District 110 Fifth District Ill Sixth District 115 Seventh District 116 Ninth District 117 Twelfth District 119 Communication of Judge J. G. Knapp 120 Communication of E. Wilcox 124 Wisconsin State Horticultural Societt. Transactions at Annual Meeting — continued. Page. Report of Fruit Committee 129 Premiums Awarded 133 Proceedings in Joint Convention 137-212 Maintenance of our "Wood Lands, Prof. Franklin B. Hough 137 Forests and Forestry in Wisconsin, Dr. John A. Warder 148 Timber Culture, J. S. Stickney 156 The Apple Crop, and How to Manage it, J. C. Plumb 169 Keeping Fruit, Chas. Herschinger 175 Small Fruits, I. N. Stone 183 Ten Years in Horticulture, A. J. Philips 188 The Birds of the Garden, Mrs. H. M. Lewis 199 The Little Folks of House and Farm, Mrs. O. F. Brown 210 Floriculture; Its Influence on the Home, Mrs. D. C. Ayres 217 The Ideal and Real in Horticulture, B. F. Adams 221 Rust or Mildew ; Its Effect on Fruit and Grain, G. P. Peffer 228 Horticulture as an Educating Influence, J. M. Smith 232 Raspberry Culture, A. L. Hatch 241 Reports of Local Societies 243 Brown County Society 243 Freedom Horticultural Society 246 Everlasting Flowers, Wm. Toole 247 Fremont Horticultural Society 249 Grand Chute Horticultural Society 250 Janesville Horticultural Society 251 Northwestern Horticultural Society ... 252 Strawberry Culture, J. M. Smith ... 253 Top Grafting of Crab Apple Trees. .".'.' 258 Sauk County Horticultural Society 262 Waupaca County Horticultural Society. 265 Communications and Miscellaneous Papers 269-346 Siberian Apples 269 Entomological Notes 275-339 History and Cultivation of Pyre thrum ... 275 The Chinch Bug 286 Plum Curculio 295 Apple Curculio 303 The Pea Weevil... 3f6 The Clover Root Borer ,.. 308 Fungus in Living Plants 310 CutWorms.. 325 Hessian Fly 333 Cultivation of Flowers, Mrs. Willard 339 Fruit Statistics 345 Meteorological Observations 346 List of Officers, 1881. LIST OF OFFICERS, 1831. PRESIDENT. J. M. Smith, Green Pay. VICE PRESIDENT. J. C. PLUMB, Milton. RECORDING SECRETARY. F. W. CASE, Madison. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. A. J. PHILIPS, West Salem TREASURER. M. ANDERSON, Cross Plains. MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Ex Officio. J. M. Smith, President, Green Bay. F. W. Case, Secretary, Madison. M. Anderson, Treasurer, Cross Plains. Did. 1st. G. J. Kellogg, Janesville. 2d. J. W. Wood, Baraboo. 3d. S. J. Freeborn, Ithaca. 4th. J. S. Stickney, Wauwatosa. Dist. 5th. George C. Hill, Rosendale. 6th. D. PIuntley, Appleto". 7th. A. A. Arnold, Galesville. 8th. Augustus Cole, Oconto. committee on nomenclature. J. C. Plumb, Milton. D. T. Pilgrim, West Granville. G. J. Kellogg, Janesville. committee op observation. Dist. 1st. George Jeffrey, Milwaukee. 2d. J. C. Plumb, Milton. 3d. George C. Hill, Rosendale. 4th. G. W. Putnam, Ash Ridge. 5th. H. Floyd, Berlin. 6th. C. W. Potter, Mauston. Dist. 7th. D. Huntley, Appleton, 8th. A. B. Balch, Fremont. 9th. A. J. Philips, West Salem. 10th. G. W. Perry, Superior. 11th. A. R. McDonald, Sheboygan, 12th. J. M. Smith, Green Bay. s Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. MEMBERS, 1831. Adams, B. F Madison Wisconsin. Alcott, Wm Brodhead Wisconsin. Allen, Prof. W. F Madison Wisconsin. Anderson, Hon. M Pine Bluff Wisconsin. Arnold, A. A Galesville Wisconsin. Barter, S Markesan Wisconsin. Baumback, William Wauwatosa Wisconsin. Case, F. W Madison Wisconsin. Daniels, E. W Auroraville Wisconsin. Dibble, G. W Evansville Wisconsin. Freeborn, S. J Ithaca Wisconsin. Gill, Wm Dayton Wisconsin. Goss, B. F Pewaukee Wisconsin. Graves, S. W Brooklyn Wisconsin. Greenman, C. H Wauwatosa Wisconsin. Hacker, T. L Madison Wisconsin. Haigbt, Nicholas Syene Wisconsin. Hambright, C. M Beaver Dam Wisconsin. Hanchett, Mark Footville Wisconsin. Hatch, A. L Ithaca Wisconsin. Hill, Geo. C Rosendale Wisconsin. Hirschinger, Chas Baraboo Wisconsin. Holt, M. A Madison Wisconsin. Hoxie, B. S Cookville Wisconsin. Howie, John Waunakee Wisconsin. Hunt, Samuel Evansville Wisconsin. Jeffrey, Geo Milwaukee, 630 Chestnut St Wisconsin. Jewett, Z. K. Sparta Wisconsin. Kellogg, Geo.J Janesville Wisconsin. Lawrence, F. S Janesville Wisconsin. Lowe, Victor Palmyra « Wisconsin. McDonald, D Verona Wisconsin. Mills, Simeon Madison Wisconsin. Morrison, W. H Elkhorn Wisconsin. Olds, B. B Clinton Wisconsin. Palmer, N. N Brodhead Wisconsin. Peffer, Geo. P Pewaukee Wisconsin. Philips, A. J West Salem Wisconsin. Members, 1881. 9 Pilgrim, D. T West Granville Wisconsin. Plumb, J. C Milton Wisconsin. Plumb, T. D., Jr Madison Wisconsin. Potter, C. W Mauston Wisconsin. Reid, Wni North Prairie Wisconsin. Reynolds, Werden Green Bay Wisconsin. Smith, Alfred ... Madison Wisconsin. Smith, J. M Green Bay Wisconsin. Spencer, R. C Milwaukee Wisconsin. Steinfort, II Lake Mills Wisconsin. Stickney, J. S Wauwatosa Wisconsin. Stone, I.N Fort Atkinson Wisconsin. Thompson, H. M St. Francis Wisconsin. Tuttle, A. G ' Baraboo Wisconsin. Tuttle, A. C Kilbourn City Wisconsin. Warren, A. A Green Bay Wisconsin. West, J. R. . Evansville Wisconsin. Wilcox, E Trempealeau Wisconsin. Williams, Daniel Summit Wisconsin. Wocd J. W Baraboo Wisconsin. HONORARY MEMBERS. LIFE. Dr. Joseph Hobbins, ex-President; F. G. S., Corresponding Member Royal Horticultural Society, England, Madison, Wisconsin. O. S. Willey, ex-Recording Secretary. Peter M. Gideon, Excelsior, Minnesota. annual. Dr. P. II. Hoy Racine Wisconsin. T. C. Arthur Madison Wisconsin. M. S. George, Ed. West'n Rural, Chicago Illinois. Mrs. A. A. Arnold Galesville Wisconsin. Mrs. Ophelia Forward Appleton Wisconsin. Prof. Wm. A. Henry Madison Wisconsin. J. W. Larkin, Ed. Wis. Farmer, Fond du Lac Wisconsin. Mrs. D. Huntley Appleton Wisconsin. Mrs. H. M. Lewis Madison Wisconsin. Mrs. D. C. Ayres Green Bay Wisconsin. Mrs. Prof. A. Kerr Madison Wisconsin. 10 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. FRUIT LIST. APPLES. Six Varieties best adapted to Wisconsin, Hardiness, Productiveness and Quality taken into consideration. — Duchess of Oldenburg, Wealthy, Pewau- kee, Haas, Fameuse, Plumb's Cider. Additional list for cultivation in favorable locations. — Tetofsky, Red As- trachan, St. Lawrence, Fall Orange, Price's Sweet, Alexander, Utter, West- field Seek-no-Further, Willow Twig, Golden Russet, Walbridge. Note.— The question of adaptation of varieties is one so largely "depenient upon local conditions of soil, elevation and aspect, that a general list will not answer fully the wants of every planter, and at bast can only be a general guide In the selection of varieties. For more specific directions, the following rules and lists are furnished by the commlitee chosen for this purpose: 1. Locations comparatively elevated and well drained, with a cool northern aspect and fine gravelly clay soil, not very rich, may extend the general list named above to an indefinite extent, with fair prospect of success it southern and eastern districts of the s'ate. But for warm, sheltered locations and rich soils, which induce a great growth, no section of our state can safely plant other than those varieties known to be extremely hardy. 2. The best guide in the selection of varieties is for each to plant largely of such varieties as are found snccess'nl in locations similar to that each must plant upon. For all unfavor- able locutions, and extreme northern districts, only the most hardy, well tried app'es of the Russian or Siberian type should be chosen for general planting. 3. In the extreme northern districts, only the crown of the hills should be chosen for the orchard, with a firm soil and porous subsoil, and if thes i materials are wanting naturally, they should be supplied artificially. STRAWBERRIES. For General Cultivation. — Wilson's Albany, Boyden's No. 30, Green Pro- lific, Crescent. For Trial. — Charles Downing, Kentucky, Prouty's Seedling, Col. Cheney, Sharpless and Captain Jack. GRAPES. General List. — Concord, Delaware, Worden, Wilder, Agawam, Janesville, Lindley. For Trial. — Israelis, Massasoit, Brighton, Champion, Moore's Early. RASPBERRIES. For General Cultivation. — Miami, Philadelphia, Dooliltle, Turner and Brandywine. For Trial— Gregg, Cuthbert. Fruit List — Timbir Culture. 11 BLACKBERRIES. For Trial— Snyder, Stone's Hardy. PEARS. Most LikAy to Succeed for General Cultivation. — Flemish Beauty. For Trial. — Ananas d'Ete, Early Bergamot, Bartlett, Swan's Orange, Seckel, Winter Nellis, Clapp's Favorite, Beurre d'Anjou, Doyenne d'Ete. PLUMS. For Trial. — Lombard, Imperial Gage, Magnum Bonum, Yellow Egg, El- dridge, Duane's Purple, De Soto. CHERRIES. For General Cultivation. — Early Richmond, Lite Richmond or Kentish, English Morello. EVERGREENS. For General Culti 'cation. — Norway Spruce, White Pine, Arbor Vitoe, Scotch Pine, Balsam, White Spruce. For Ornamental Planting.— Austrian Pine, Norway Pipe, Hemlock, Sibe- rian Arbor Vita?, Red Cedar, Dwarf Pine (Pinus Montana). For Timber. — European Larch, White Pine. For Live Fence Posts. — Norway Spruce. TIMBER CULTURE. For Timber of rapid growth and easy culture. (Valuable in order named.) Black Walnut. White Ash. Black Cherry. Butternut. European Larch. Soft Maple. White Elm. Box Elder. Coi ton Wood. White Willow. la commencing to plant on a prairie farm, reverse the ordtr of this list. For timber of fifty to one hundred years' 1 growth. White Oak. Red Oak. Burr Oak. Hickory. For street trees. (Valuable in order named.) White Elm. Hard Maple. Basswood (Linden). White Ash. Green Ash. Box Elder. Soft Maple. For lawn planting. (Valuable in order named.) Cut-leaf Weeping Birch. Norway Maple. Linden. Green Ash. Horse Chestnut. American Mountain Ash. European Mountain Ash. European Larch. European Alder. Weeping Poplar. Weeping Mountain Ash. Weeping Golden Bark AsK Kilmarnock Weeping Willow. 12 Wiscoxsin State Horticultural Society. ACT OF REORGANIZATION OF THE STATE HORTI- CULTURAL SOCIETY. Chapter 151, Laws of 1879. Section 1. The executive committee of the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society shall hereafter consist of the president, secretary and treasurer of said society, and of one member from each congressional district of the state; said members from the congressional districts to be chosen annually by the county and local horticultural societies in the respective districts. Section 2. The present officers and executive committee of said society shall hold their respective offices until the Tuesday next succeeding the fir=t Monday in February, 18S0, and until their successors are appointed Section 3. It shall be the duty of the said society to aid in the formation and maintenance of county and local horticultural societies, to promote the horticultural interests of the state by the holding of meetings for discussioa ; by the collection and disseminition of valuable information in regard to the cultivation of fruits, flowers and trees adapted t) our soil and climate, and in every proper way to advance the fruit and tree growing interests of the state. Section 4. The annual meeting of the society shall be held on the Tues- day next succeeding the first Monday in February of each year, for the elec- tion of its officers, the transaction of general business, and the consideration of questions pertaining to horticulture. Section 5. All vacancies in the offices of said society may be filled by the executive committee; and should there be a failure to electa member of the executive committee in any district, the vacancy may be filled by a two- thirds vote of the members of the society present at any regularly appointed meeting. Section 6 It shall be the duty of the secretary of said society to make an annual report to the governor of the state of the transactions of the society, including an itemized account of all moneys expended d mug the year, in aidition to such matters as are now specified in the law relating to the same. Section 7. The number of printed pages of said report shall not exceed three hundred and fifty, and the number of copies shall be limited to three thousand five hundred. In all other respects, the publication and distribu- tion of said report shall be in accordance with the provisions of the law now in force concerning the same. Section 8. The sum of ?603 is hereby appropriated out of any money in the state treasury not otherwise appropriated, to aid the said society in car- rying out the provisions of this act; said sum to be pa'.d by the stat3 Constitution and By-Laws. 13 treasui\r upon the order of the president of said society, in such sums and at such times as shall best contribute to the prosperity of the society and the interests it represents. Secti n 9. This act shall take efiect and be in force from and after its passage and publication. Approved March 1, 1879. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. As amended February, 1879. CONSTITUTION. Art. I. This Society shall be known as the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Art. II. Its object shall be the advancement of the science of horticul- ture. Art. III. Its members shall consist of annual members, paying an annual fee of one dollar; of life members, paying a fee of ten dollars at one time; of honorary life members, who shall be distinguished for merit in horticultural or kindred sciences, or who shall confer any particular benefit upon the society ; and honorary annual members, who may, by vote, be invited to par- ticipate in the proceedings of the society. Art. IV. Its officers shall consist of a President, Vice President, Record- ing Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Superintendent, and an Executive Board consisting of the foregoing officers and additional mem- bers, one from each congressional district of the state, five of whom shall constitute a quorum at any of its meetings. In addition to the foregoing officers, the presidents of all local horticultural societies reporting to this society shall be deemed honorary members and ex officio vice presidents of this society. All officers shall be elected by ballot, and shall hold their office for one year thereafter, and until their successors are elected ; provided, the additional executive members may be elected by the county or local horti- cultural societies of their respective districts. Art. V. The society shall hold annual meetings, commencing on the Monday next preceding the first Tuesday in February, for the election of officers, for discussions, and for the exhibition of fruit; also one meeting during the fall, for the exhibition of fruits and for discussions, and such other meetings for discussions and exhibition as the executive committee may direct, at s';ch time and place as the executive board shall designate. Art. VI. This constitution, with the accompanying by-laws, may be amended at aiy regular meeting, by a two-thirds vote of the members present. 14 Wisconsix State Horticultural Society. BT-LA.WS. I. The president shall preside at meetings, and, with the advice of the re- cording secretary, call all meetings of the society and have a general super- vision of the affairs of the society; and shall deliver an annual address upon some subject connected with horticulture. II. The vice president shall act in the absence or disability of the presi- dent, and perform tee duties of the chief officer. III. The secretary shall attend to all the correspondence, shall record the proceedings of the society, preserve all papers belonging to the same, and superintend the publication of its reports. He shall also present a detailed report of the affairs of the society, at its annual meeting. He shall also en- deavor to secure reports from the various committees, and from local socie- ties, of the condition and prog ess of horticulture in the various districts of the state, and report the same to this society. It shall be the duty of the secretary to make an annual report to the governor of the state, of the trans- actions of the society, according to the provisions of the statutes for state reports. IV. The treasurer shall keep an account of all moneys belonging to the society, and disburse the same on the written order of the president, counter- signed by U.e secretary, and shall make an annual report of the receipts and disbursements, and furnish the secretary 'with a copy of the same, on or be- fore the first day of the annual meeting. The treasurer elect shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, give good and sufficient b:nds for the faithful performance of his duties, subject to the approval Of the executive committee. V. The executive board may, subject to the approval of the society, man- age all its affairs and fill vacancies in the board of officers; three of their number, as designated by the president, shall constitute a finance committee. VI. It shall be the duty of the finance committee to settle with the treas- urer, and to examine and report upon all the bills or claims against the society, which may have been presented and referred to them. VII. The standing committees of this society shall be as follows: 1st, Committee on Finance, consisting of three members; 2d, Committee on No- menclature, consisting of three members; 3d, Committee of Observation, as now provided. Said committees to be appointed annually by the executive committee of the society. Law Relating to Tree Belts. 15 LAWS RELATING TO THE PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE WISCONSIN STATE HORTI- CULTURAL SOCIETY. Revised Statutes, 1878. Section 339. There shall be printed annually by the state printer, on the order of the commissioners of public printing, * * * three thousand copies of the transactions of the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, together with abstracts of reports of county and other horticultural societies, and such other matter pertaining to fruit growing and other horticultural interests of the state as shall be deemed important. The volume may include such engravings as shall be necessary to illustrate the printed matter; the cost of said engravings not to exceed the sum of one hundred and fifty dol- lars in any one year, and to be paid out of the state treasury. Section 363. The transactions of the State Horticultural Society shall be distributed as follows: Five copies to each member of the legislature; fifty copies to each town or county horticultural society that shall report its or- ganization, with officers elect, number of members, and an abstract of its proceedings, for publication in said volume, to the secretary of the State Horticultural Society; fifteen copies to each county agricultural society re- porting to the secretary of state ; fifty copies to the State Agricultural Society ; fifty copies to the State University; twenty-five copies to the State Historical Society; and all remaining copies to the State Horticultural Society. * * * The number of the printed pages of the transactions * * * of said hor- ticultural society shall not exceed two hundred; and all such transactions shall be printed on good book paper and bound in muslin covers, uniform in style with the previous volumes published. Chapter 151, Laics of 1879. Section 6. It shall be the duty of the secretary of said society to make an annual report to the governor of the state of the transactions of the society, including an itemized account of all moneys expended duriDg the year, in addition to such matters as are now specified in the law relating to the same. Section 7. The number of printed pages of said report shall not exceed three hundred and fifty, and the number of copies shall be limited to three thousand and five hundred. In all other respects, the publication and distri- bution of said report shall be in accordance with the provisions of the law now in force concerning the same. LAW RELATING TO TREE BELTS, REVISED STATUTES 1878. Section 1469. Every owner or possessor of five acres of land, or more, who shall successfully grow by planting with forest trees, consisting of the following kinds, or such species thereof as will grow to the height of fifty 16 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. feet or more, viz.: arbor vitoe, ash, balsam fir, basswood, beech, birch, butter- nut, cedar, black cherry, chestnut, coffee tree, cucumber tree, elm, hackberry, hemlock, hickory, larch, locust, maple, oak, pine, spruce, tulip tree and wal- nut, tree belts in the manner and form prescribed in the next section, shall te entitled to have the land on which such tree belts grow, exempted from taxation from the time the trees commence to grow until they shall reach the height of twelve feet, and after they shall have attained that height, to receive an annual bounty of two dollars per acre for each acre so grown. Section 1470. Such tree belts shall be planted on the west or south sides of each tract of land, be of uniform width throughout their entire length, contain not less than eight trees, at nearly equidistance, on each square rod of land, and be at least thirty feet wide for each five acre tract, sixty feet wide for each ten acre tract, and one hundred feet wide for each square forty acre tract, and upon all square tracts of land, upon two sides thereof. All tree belts owned by the same land owner must be planted not to exceed a fourth of a mile apart, and on the west and south sides of every square forty acres, and shall "not exceed one-fifth of the entire tract of land on which the same are planted ; provided, that when the east and north sides, or either, of any tract of land, is bounded by a public highway, a tree belt one rod wide may be planted next to said highway, although it, with the others on the west and south sides, shall exceed one-fifth of the whole tract ; and tree belts may be planted on any other lines within each forty square acres, by permission of the assessor. Section 1471. The assessor shall, upon the application of the owner thereof, in each year, at the time of assessing the personal property in his dis- trict, make a personal examination of all tree belts for which bounty or ex- emption from taxation is claimed, and ascertain whether they have been planted as required in the preceding section, and are thriftily growing, and if he shall be satisfied thereof, he shall not assess the same for taxation unless the trees therein shall have attained the height of twelve feet, and in that case he shall deliver to the owner a certificate that he is entitled to an annual bounty of two dollars for each acre of such tree belts, stating therein the whole amount of such bounty, and giving a description of the entire land of which the tree belts form a part, and the amount of such bounty shall be credited by the treasurer in payment of any taxes assessed on such land, as so much cash; but if not so satisfied, the assessor shall assess the land for taxes or refuse to grant any certificate for the bounty, as the case may require; and if, after any certificate for such bounty shall have been issued, the owner of any such tree belts shall sutler the same to die out by want of cultivation or otherwise, or shall cut the same down, or in any other way allow the same to be so thinned out, that in the opinion of the assessor he ought no longer to receive such bounty, he shall give the treasurer written notice thereof, and thereafter no further bounty shall be allowed until such owner shall again receive a certificate therefor. PROCEEDINGS AT THE Summer Meeting OP THE WISCONSIN" STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Held at Baraboo June 17 and 18, 1880, and at Green Bay June 23 and 24, 1880. ) At the annual meeting of the State Horticultural Society for 1879-80, it was decided instead of one June meeting to hold hereafter a number of summer meetings for discussions and ex- hibitions of fruits and flowers, and accordingly propositions were made by the State Society, to the various local societies, to hold six of these meetings and to contribute fifty dollars to each, toward defraying the expenses of an exhibition of fruits and flowers in connection with the local Horticultural Societies, that would make the arrangements necessary to ensure success. Two societies only responded ; the Sauk County Horticultural and the Brown County Horticultural and Agricultural. The time and place selected for the first meeting was June 17 and 18, at Baraboo, and the second at Green Bay, June 23 and 24. 2 — Hort. 18 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. MEETING AT BARABOO. Unfortunately the time selected for this meeting was so near that of the Nurserymen and Fruit Growers' Convention held at Chicago, as to seriously interfere with the attendance of the mem- bers of the State Society, who are generally present at these meetings. The local attendance was good and the exercises were pleasant and full of interest. The convention assembled at 11 o'clock A. M., at the court house and spent the hour in the discussion of strawberries; various fruit growers present giving their practical experience with differ- ent varieties. The opinion generally expressed was that as yet there was nothing that would fill the place of the Wilson ; that the Crescent Seedling, in hardness and productiveness, was a valuable variety, but was a little inferior in quality to some others, and was lacking in shipping qualities; that Boyden's No. 30 and Charles Downing were of fine quality in berry, and could be cultivated with reasonable success in most locations, and that the Kentucky was unrivalled as a late berry. NATIVE FOLIAGE PLANTS AND VINES. At the afternoon session Wra. Toole, president of North Free- dom Horticultural Society, who was to have prepared an essay on "Shades of Green as seen in Nature," in lieu of the promised paper, gave a very interesting address on this subject and the cultivation of wild plants, smilax and ferns for, this purpose; of which, he has kindly given the following summary at the request of the secretary. Attention was called to the bright refreshing shade of green, which rye presents in early spring time, contrasting as it does with all other verdure, until the endless varietj' of summer's beauty makes us forget the differences so pleasing to us but a short time before. One or more beds of rye on the lawn form a pleasing sight, on which we gladly rest our eyes when the mantle of snow is passing away. It's beauty is in keeping'with its surroundings, until the mass of verdure is about two feet high, when the whole Native Foliage Plants and Vines. 19 may be turned and make a splendid bed for Ricinus, Caladiums, Cannas and other subtropical plants. It may follow early annuals, or spring flowering bulbs, and should be sown early in September; such a rotation is very beneficial to flowers that delight in a rich soil. Mention was made of some native or naturalized plants which on account of contrasting shades of green are useful for bedding with each other. Compass plant — Sylphium lacinialum — makes a fine contrast with common mullen, which is different as possible from common thistle, that may be used to form the next circle, and this may be surrounded by motherwort, completing the bed with an outer circle of yarrow. A few of our wild plants, in the experience of the speaker and some of his friends, have shown themselves very pleasant company during the winter, bringing with their greenness the freshness of summer woods to grace our homes in winter. Our little trailing Partridgeberry, if carefully removed, will retain its beautiful leaves and bright berries through the winter. Bedstraw grows with almost summer luxuriance, and suggests many a fragrant woodland breeze. Mouse-ear chick- weed makes a beautiful basket plant for winter. Our smaller ferns with a great variety of mosses, rattlesnake plaintain, Adam and Eve — Aplectrum hyemale — Liverleaf rue anemone, that beau- tiful little club moss — Lycopodium luckhdum — and many others to choose from, will make a beautiful wild garden if planted in a shallow rustic box with sufficient woods earth. They should be kept in a cold, shady place, with a limited supply of water for a month or more, that they may go through the required ripening process which seems to render some substitute for winter neces- sary. When brought forth to grace the living room, they should have a cool situation and not a very dry atmosphere. Among a large collection of plants, to me the most interesting, was a lux- uriant tuft of blue grass, growing in a box, a few winters ago, at the home of one who has since become famous for her skill in the dairy. As a decorative green the Smilax was warmly commended. Those who desire to commence with the seeds, should pour hot water on them, and let them soak about twelve hours before 20 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. planting. Sow the seeds in soil made light \s ith. sand and vege- table mold. Cover with a pane of glass until they germinate, after which give air and harden by gradually removing the glass. When the plants are large enough to transplant, from four to six may be placed about the edge of a six-inch pot in a soil having a fair share of fibrous vegetable mold (not black humus) with some sand and manure. Water thoroughly, but not too often. The plants will grow slowly at first, but should be transplanted to sep- arate pot3 as soon as the roots begin to crowd. They will gener- ally need no rest during the first winter, but if the leaves begin to turn yellow and drop off, withhold water, and let them rest in a cool, dark place for about six weeks ; then bring them forward to grow, and be patient. After resting, the Smilax always starts a new growth of roots first. When one year old, the plants will be such as we usually receive from the florist, with the advan*age of having been exposed to no transportation hardships. Repot plants which have been bought, using such soil as has been already described. Soil suitable may be procured in any woodland or among rich hazel brush. Remove the dry surface leaves and secure a supply of decayed leaves and roots which will readily crumble and yet show something of their original com- position ; mix this with an equal quantity of loamy garden soil and half the same amount each of sand and thoroughly de- cayed manure. Plant in small pots or boxes, and use judgment in watering. Give enough each time but not too often. Let the surface become dry each time before renewing the supply. Let them have a situation in summer where they can be shaded from the midday sun. Repot as soon as the roots fill the soil, before any of the white roots begin to turn brown, no matter how small the growth of plant may be. If there is any special secret about growing the Smilax it consists in giving more room for roots just as soon as they need it; but never put it or any kind of small plant iu a very large pot. As soon as plants are large enough to require a six inch pot, increase the proportion of manure to the garden soil. Like the Asparagus, a near relative, when once established they are strong feeders. Liquid manure may be used with judgment to advantage. A good, strong growth should be Native Foliage Plants and Vines. 21 secured before winter, for if "winter bloom is desired, it must be expected on early fall growth of vine. The flowers are not showy, but are delightfully fragrant, and the red berries which succeed them, contrasting with the bright green leaves, are quite at- tractive. With these, as with many other plants, the change to indooi life is very trying, and too often the frequent and sudden changes are accepted as winter by them and they rest. During winter, do not crowd with other plants; and give plenty of air when it can be done without suddenly lowering the temperature. Avoid too much heat and dry air. Do not let them freeze, but they will almost bear it. Excessive heat and dryness they cannot endure. If, from any cause, the plants turn yellow after having made a thrifty growth, do not fear that they will die. Let them rest in the cellar a few weeks, then repot the bunches of tubers in pots small enough, after removing the useless roots, and wait patiently. Their spring-time will come when the new growth of roots has prepared them for it. If the tubers are separated from the plant, it will be sacrificed, but many of them will grow about as strong as seedling plants. The value of dried ferns as greens was spoken of. Many per- sons are mistaken in supposing that ferns for drying should not be gathered before the close of summer. Many species have completed their growth and begin to pass away by midsummer. Notably such are the Phegopteris or Beech ferns, Moonwort ferns, a few of the Shield ferns and Cystopteris. Only matured fronds should be selected. Those which are immature and succulent must be rejected, no matter how delicate and graceful they may appear, for they will discolor in drying. The collection of the evergreen ferns, Polypody, Walking fern, Asplenium tri<;homanes, Aspidium spinulosum, Aspidium marginale, and Aspidium acros- tichoides, may, if desirable, be left until late in the season. A close fitting box may be used to kepp them from wilting. Where appearances were immaterial, I have found a common wash-boiler with a close fitting cover convenient to hold wild flowers and ferns, which sometimes must be moved many miles, while collect- ing a variety. 22 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. When drying fern?, the driers should be changed if possible twice during the first twenty-four hours, and once each day for three or four days after; then occasionally, until they are dry enough. A box of stones makes a good weight to assist the pa- pers in extracting the surplus moisture. As the ferns become nearly dry they may be placed closer together to relieve some of the papers to be used again. Spread out the papers, after chang- ing, to dry out the moisture which they have taken from the ferns. When dried they may be packed together in boxes to keep from dust until needed. Aspidium spinulosum, Aspidium marginale and Poylpodycure with the darkest green color, but the Maiden hair and Clayton's fern curl the least in heated rooms. When autumn leaves are brightening, some ferns may be found which give very pretty effects with their varied shades and markings of creamy white, buff, light and reddish brown, black and green. Maiden hair, Clayton's fern and the common Brake — Pleris aquilinia — change their colors before withering more than others. J. M. Smith, president of the State Society, read a paper on "Strawberry Culture;" Mrs. U. II. Strong, secretary of the Sauk county Horticultural Society, presented one on the " Cultivation of House Plants," and J. W. Wood, president of the local society, followed with one on the subject of "Adaptations in Horticul- ture." These papers were of much special interest and would have appeared in this report, had the authors responded to the re- quest to forward them. The subjects presented were fully discussed. In the evening an exhibition and festival was held in the hall. The display of fruits, flowers, house and green house plants and vegetables was choice and attractive. The cut flowers, bouquets, floral and foliage designs and special exhibits were proluse in number and were arranged with great taste, and formed one of the principal attractions of the exhibition ; one of the most inter- esting features was the collections of mosses, ferns and wild flowers for which this region is noted. The hall was beautifully decorated with many large and rare plants, rustic baskets, pictures Pbemiums Awarded. 23 and works of art. The refreshments served were of the choicest, and the social features were highly pleasing and attractive, and reflect great credit on the members of the local society and citi- zens of Baraboo, for the kindly interest, ability and good taste displayed, giving to the exhibition double attractiveness and value. The following are the PBEMIUMS AWARDED : SMALL FRUITS. Best cherries. Mrs. H. R. Ryan $ 50 Best Wilson's strawberries, G. J. Kellogg 50 Second best, Chas. Herschinger 25 Best Green Prolific, Geo, J. Kellogg 50 Second best, W. C. Warner 25 Best Charles Downing, G. J. Kellogg 50 Second best, Chas. Herschinger 25 Best Crescent Seedling, Chas. Herschinger 50 Second best, Geo. J. Kellogg 25 Best Boyden's, No. 30, Chas Herschinger 50 Second best, Geo. J. Kellogg 25 Best Kentucky, Chas Herschinger 50 Second best, W. C. Warner 25 Best Col. Cheney, Geo. J. Kellogg 50 Second best, Chas. Herschinger 25 Best Capt. Jack, Geo. J. Kellogg 50 Best Sharpless, Geo. J. Kellogg „ 50 Best plate, in quality, Chas. Herschinger 50 Second best, W. C Warner 25 Best plate, in size, Chas. Herschinger 50 Second best, W. C. Warner 25 Best collection small fruits, George J. Kellogg 3 00 Second best, Chas Herschinger 2 00 HOUSE PLANTS. Largest and best display, not over forty kinds, Mrs. W. H. Strong. ... 5 00 Second best, Mrs. J. C. Owen 3 00 Best display cacti, Mrs. S. S. Grubb 1 00 Best cactus in bloom, Mrs. 8. S. Grubb 50 Best single ivy, Mrs. S. S. Grubb 50 Second best, Mrs. M. C. Waite 25 Best collection of fuchsias, Mrs. J. C. Owen 1 00 Second best, Mrs. M. C Waite 50 Best single fuchsia, Mrs. J. C. Owen 50 Best collection of geraniums in bloom, Mrs. M. C. Waite 1 00 Second best, Mrs. J. C. Owen 50 Best collection foliage geraniums, Mrs. Levi Crouch. ... 1 00 Second best, Mrs. J. C. Owen 50 Best collection pelargoniums, Mrs. M. C. Waite 1 00 Second best, Mrs. J. C. Owen 50 Best collection foliage plants, Mrs. M. C. Waite 1 00 Second best, Mrs. J. C. Owen 50 Best display begonias, Mrs. Levi Crouch 1 00 Second best, Mrs. J. C. O wen 50 Best showy leaf begonias, Mrs. J. C. Owen 1 00 Second best, Mrs. M. C. Waite 50 Best hanging basket, Mrs. M. M. Davis 1 00 Second best, Mrs. U. H. Strong 50 24 Wisconsin State Horticultueal Society. Best century plant, Mrs. M. M. Davis $ 50 Secoc d best, Mrs. U. II. Strong 25 Best acacias in bloom, Mrs. U. H. Strong 50 Best abutilon in bloom, Mrs. Levi Crouch 50 Second best, Mrs. M. M. Davis 50 Best calla, Mrs. C. Ryan 50 Best smilax, Wm. Toole 50 Best display of vines for house culture, Miss Sneathan 50 Sec nd best, Mrs. M. C. Waite 25 Best primula, Mrs. J. C. Owen 50 Best oxalis, Mrs. M. M. Davis 50 Best beliotrope, Mrs. Levi Crouch 50 Second best, Mrs. C. Ryan 25 CUT FLOWERS. Best display of roses, Mrs. Lucy Case 2 00 Second best, Miss Julia Avery 1 00 Best basket of flowers, Mrs. Levi Crouch 50 Best round bouquet, Mrs. J. C. Owen 50 Best pyramidal bouquet, Mrs. Levi Crouch 50 Best flat bouquet, Mrs. M. M. Davis 50 Best pansies, Mrs. J W. Wood 50 Best peonies, Mrs. Wm. Toole 50 WILD FLOWERS AND FERNS. Best show wild flowers, Mrs. Kate Toole 1 50 Second best, M aster John Toole 75 Best display mosses, lichens and lycopodiums, Mrs. Kate Toole 1 50 Best show native ferns, Mrs. Kate Toole • . . 1 50 Best show of rare wild plants and flowers, Mrs. Kate Toole 50 Best ornamental work in this class, Mrs. Kate Toole 1 50 Best cypripedium, Master John Toole 50 Best foreign ferns, Mrs. T. Thomas 00 SPECIAL PREMIUMS. Best boutonniere for gentlemen, Mrs. Levi Crouch. . . .Rustic hanging basket Best " for lady (blonde), Mrs. Levi Crouch . . Rustic hanging baske* Best " for lady (brunette), Mrs. Levi Crouch, Rustic hanging basket Best ornamental decoration by person under 17 years of age, Miss Eva Davis 2 50 Best rustic vase of flowers, Miss T. Thompson Third best collection of house plants, Mrs. Levi Crouch Best collection birds' eggs, Master Carl Sumner Fine ornamental designs in mosses, ferns and wild flowers, Miss Belle Crouch 2 50 Fine design in wild flowers, Miss Cora Pimbley Special premium VEGETABLES. Best display lettuce, J. W. "Wood 50 Best display asparagus, J. W. Wood 50 Second best, S S. Grubb 25 Best display ra iiskes, W. C. Warner 50 Second best, J. W. Wood 25 Best display pie plan', J. W. Wood 50 Best display peas, J. W. Wood 50 Second best, W. C. Warner 25 Best display beets, J. W. Wood 50 Second best, David Sansum 25 Best display onions, J. W. Wood 50 Best display turnips, J. W. Wood 50 Second best, David Sansum 25 Best display potatoes, David Sansum 50 Best Sweet potatoes, J. W. Wood , 50 Best collection vegetables, J. W. Wood 3 00 Second best, W. C. Warner 1 50 Address of Welcome. 25 MEETING AT GREEN BAY. The joint convention of the two societies was opened in Klaus' Hall, at 10 A. M. of June 23d, by J. M. Smith as presi- dent of the Brown County Society. The attendance on the part of the members of the State Society was much larger than at the meeting held the previous year, but the pressure of farm work, attendant upon the backward season, interfered somewhat with the local attendance ; still there was a fair audience present. Arrangements had been made to have the Address of Welcome and the response given by Judge T. O. Howe and R. D. Torrey respectively, but both persons being absent, these duties were assigned at the last moment to Hon. W. J. Abrams and Mr. J. S. Stickney. In presenting the words of welcome on behalf of the citizens of Green Bay and the Brown County Society, Mr. Abrams spoke substantially as follows : ADDRESS OF WELCOME. lir. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Stale Horticultural Society : In a state like ours, where agriculture is the principal source of wealth, and the advancement and prosperity of the citizens and the whole state depend on the successful cultivation of the soil, we should see to it that we do not fall behind sister states around us engaged in similar occupations, and that we do not rest content with what we have already accomplished, and sit down in inactiv- ity. In order to prevent this, agricultural societies have been organized and are engaged in the dissemination of knowledge and inciting to a friendly rivalry. But something more is wanted ; something is needed to make home more attractive and to relieve the burden and care resulting from the hard, delving toil of the farm. To meet this want, horticultural societies were formed, in order to promote the cultivation and development of the beauti- ful along with the more substantial labor of the farm, or, in other words, to unite the poetry with the prose of husbandry. I say poetry and prose of husbandry, for horticulture stands in the same 26 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. relation to agriculture as poetry stands to prose, working upon and developing all the finer and tenderer emotions of the human heart, for few persons can work any great length of time among fruits and flowers,without catching something of their beauty, and. having in some way their manners improved ; their tastes refined ; their intellects elevated, and their social character benefited. The president of your society, appreciating the value of a society of this kind, was chiefly instrumental in organizing what is called the Brown County Horticultural and Agricultural Society, which has now been in existence about four years, and has been of marked benefit to the people of the whole county. Last year, when your president intimated that the state society might hold its annual summer convention here, we cordially ex- tended the invitation. You came ; the convention was held : and the large amount of information we then received from the manv valuable papers read, and the memory of the many pleasant acquaintances made upon that occasion have lingered with us till now, and when your society proposed to appropriate a sufficient sum to enable several conventions to be held instead of one, we made haste to secure one here; and I can assure you that it affords us great pleasure in meeting so many of you again ; and in behalf of the Brown County Horticultural and Agricultural Society I welcome you to Green Bay, and ask your co-operation in this noble work, trusting that the present interview will be as enjoy- able as that of last year ; that you will carry with you to your homes pleasant memories of this visit. Mr. Stickney, in his response, spoke briefly of the interest felt by the State Society in the welfare and prosperity of the local societies, and its desire to join heart and hand with them in pro- moting the interests of horticulture throughout the state ; con- gratulated the Brown County Society on its thriving condition and on the good influence it was exerting, both at home and abroad, and returned thanks in behalf of the State Society and himself for the hearty welcome received. Besetting old Orchards. — Owing to the absence of a num- ber of those who were expected to read papers, the regular pro- Annual Meeting — Discussion. 27 gramme for the forenoon was omitted, and a general discussion engaged in. Mr. Huntley, of Appleton, inquired if it was possible to make young apple trees live in the orchard set where others had died out. Mr. Peffer, of Pewaukee, said that it had been frequently done with success. Mr. Stickney, of Wauwatosa, stated that in many instances, and perhaps in the majority of cases, it had failed. There were three causes of failure; first, they failed where the former tree had exhausted the strength of the soil, taking out the elements neces- sary for the growth of the tree; and second, where parts of the old tree remaining in the ground, souring or decaying, had an injurious effect on the soil; and third, where the young trees were shaded by the larger trees of the orchard. Where the proper precautions are taken to prevent injury from these causes there would seem to be no reason why trees could not be made to grow where others had died out, provided the soil and location were suitable for orchard purposes, and the varieties were adapted to the location. Mr. Plumb, of Milton, believed that the want of success in such cases was mainly due to the exhaustion of the soil by the old trees. The old soil should be removed and fresh soil put in. If this is done properly the conditions necessary to healthy growth will be secured and success will follow. The question of healthy nutri- tion is as important in tree growing and floriculture as in stock raising and other branches of farming. Russian Apples. — President Smith stated, that while at Bar- aboo, he had visited a thrifty young orchard containing about one hundred and fifty varieties of Russian apples. He was muck pleased with their appearance, but wanted to know if any reliable results had been yet secured by the cultivation of this class of trees. Mr. Stickney spoke of very fine thrifty young orchards of this kind of trees, that he had visited in Minnesota. They were ap- parently strong, vigorous growers, and he was in hopes that some of the varieties would prove valuable. He thought that probably 28 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. out of the one hundred and fifty kinds, eight or ten might be found of some value. Mr. Plumb had paid some attention to the Russians. They have been set in various parts of the country, but nothing of special importance had yet been developed. Perhaps it is too early to ex- pect definite results, but as a general principle we find that a strong, vigorous growth of tree is accompanied by a coarse and rather inferior quality of fruit, and that where the wood growth is compact and slow, there is a much richer and more delicate quality to the fruit. Some of our finer crabs are good samples of this, while all the Russians that are generally cultivated, like Tetofsky, Alex- ander and Red. Astracban are deficient in quality and flavor. Blight. — Mr. Huntley stated that in his orchard, the present season, Golden Russet trees, standing near other trees that were sub- ject to blight had been affected with it, while those in other parts of the orchard were not touched with it. He would like to have this subject discussed, and to learn the cause and remedy. Mr. Plumb had closely observed this blight for many years, and had long ago formed the opinion that it was not produced, as some held, by insects, but was a disease of the circulation. Excess of nutrition, especially when accompanied by hot and moist weather, produced blight. The late heavy rains, followed by very sultry weather had caused considerable blight in various parts of the state. The excessive heat produces a chemical change in the sap crowded into the cells of the tender wood, and favors the develop- ment of fungoids which are often found to accompany blight. He regarded these fungoids as a result, rather than the cause of the disease. Trees in soils that are rich and retentive of moisture are much more subject to mildew, scab and blight than where the land is poor and dry. The remedy is to under-drain ; to plant the trees on lighter soils, and, by culture, to secure early growth and maturity of both wood and fruit. Mr. Peffer said that up to June 11th, everything had been fav- orable for a heavy crop of fruit, but then there came a hot wind from the south, which withered or scorched the leaves and tender twigs on most all trees and plants, and stopped growth at once. The Farmer's Orchard. 29 This was followed by a cold rain and the sudden change turned the sap in the cells of the overburdened leaves and twigs into poi- son. This caused the fire blight seen in so many thrifty growing orchards. The fungus growth or black spots seen on the fruit, and the rust on the grain are likewise produced by the decom- position of vegetation thus effected. Meeting adjourned. 2 O'Clock, P. M. The society was called to order by President Smith, and the following paper was read, by Mr. Huntley, of Appleton, on THE FARMER'S ORCHARD. One of the first recollections of my early childhood is of look- ing in the grass for large yellow apples under an old honey sweet tree, among the green hills of Vermont. I could not have been more than three years old at that time. I have many pleasant memories of looking for early apples when a boy, of putting them in the new hay to ripen, of rising very early mornings after windy nights, to gather the mellow fruit from some particular tree that just suited my taste, and I have witnessed the same pleasure in my own children. There is real enjoyment in watching the growth of a fruit tree. How anxiously we look for the first blos- soms and wonder if they will bring fruit. All the farmer's family partake of this pleasure. There is profit also, which is invariably in direct ratio to the amount of intelligence with which one prepares the soil, plants the trees, and cares for them ever after. Some have the idea — or so we would suppose from their practice — that to dig a hole and put in the tree, very much as you would set a fence post, is all that is required, except if it should live, to pasture sheep and cattle in the same field and use them for fodder. Then the tree peddler, the nurseryman, and the country come in for about an equal amount of cursing. Such persons will always tell you that you cannot raise fruit here. The location of the orchard should be near the house if possi- 30 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. ble; back of it, or one side instead of in front, as some have it. IE there are any fruit trees in the door yard, they should be of the upright-growing kinds, like pear trees or the Tetofsky; if the front yard or lawn is large, a few of these and a few crabs may be inter- spersed among the ornamental or shade trees, but much care and judgment should be used or they will be much too close and thick, excluding the sun r and hiding the view either to or from the dwelling. If the site for the orchard has natural drainage much is gained, but if not, it should be under-drained, if possible. No water must stand for the slow process of evaporation by the sun. If not able to underdroin at first, do not wait, but set on the crown of a back furrow and underdrain afterward. Prepare the ground by deep plowing and fine pulverizing; have a nice tilth, as good cultivators say, much as you would for a premium crop of corn or potatoes. Mark the plat off, so that the rows shall be twenty feet apart, and make a farrow with a plow each way and plant the tree3 where the furrows cross, no deeper than the land has been plowed which should be eight or ten inches at least; a foot is better; draw with a hoe some fine mellow soil around the roots, just enough to make the tree stand alone, leaning a little to the west; continue in this way till ail are set; then take the team and plow, with orchard whiffletree, and backf urrow twice around each row of trees, smooth off and level down with hoe, and pack with feet and the work of setting is done. I then prune off all but two or three branches besides the leader or central shoot and cut back these one-third their length. Then mulch with coarse man- ure, three or four feet in diameter six or eight inches thick. If the trees left the nursery in good condition, with good roots and have been kept moist, not thrown into a wagon with roots uncovered and carried eight or ten miles over a very rough road, in a windy day, as is often done ; but instead, cared for properly, ninety-five per cent, of them will grow and become established as orchard trees. I would not set less than one hundred trees of the hardy varie- ties, even if the farm did not consist of more than fifteen or twen- ty acres ; and not less than five of any one kind, and these should not include the crabs, or untried aspirants for public favor. I The Farmer's Orchard. 31 would experiment with new kinds, but with caution, certainly not with those, without a recommendation better that of some un- known tree peddler from some unknown nursery, telling of some unknown somebody who said he had grown them and knew them to be very hardy and great bearers of splendid fruit, price $1.00 each. This tells the whole story, and humbug can be seen as plainly as the nose on your face, and still how many bite at this bare hook. On the basis of of one hundred trees I would want twenty-five summer, twenty-five autumn and fifty winter. I would set a succession in regard to time of ripening so that I might have apples all the year through, or certainly from the first of August and as long as Golden Russet can be kept. Quality and productiveness would influence in this selection, commencing with the earliest and naming them in the order of ripening. I would set five Tetofsky, because they are early and hardy ; I think but little of their quality, five Red Astrachan, early, hardy and of good quality, but with me very shy bearers; some top grafted are more productive; five Sops of Wine— I have found them profit- able; ten Duchess of Oldenburg, or, if one wishes a sweet apple, five Sweet June and five Duchess. The Sweet June is a very fine deserts apple ; the children always visit these trees. I have them bearing now that were set in I860; five Saxton or Fall Stripe; five St. Lawrence's, Plumb's cider, Fall Orange and Utters ; for a sweet fall apple the Sweet Pear; it is not as delicious as the Sweet June, but a better grower and more hardy. Ten Fameuse. and ten Tall man Sweet. These two are thebest of all. Twenty-five bushels of Tal- mans is none too many where there is a family of children. They will carry them to school, and eat them baked in their bread and milk upon their return. They are good for pickles and preserves, and best of ail the tree will live where other hardy kinds die. The Fameuse is equally desirable. Every body likes them. Everybody eats them. They are productive and though usually classed as a fall apple, will keep till nearly spring, if picked early and handled with care. Twenty-five bushels is none too many to put in the cellar for winter's use; ten Seeknofurther; ten Perry Russett and ten Golden Russett. This makes the one hundred. If one wished to set more, they should consist largely of Duchess, 32 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Fameuse, Tallman Sweet and Golden Russett. For crab apples, plant as many as you wish of Transcendent, Hislop, Montreal Beauty, Whitney's No. 20, Lake Winter, Briar Sweet, etc. The Pewaukee, Walbridge, Wealthy, Wolf River and others are grow- ing, but have not fruited much yet. The Ben Davis we have tried and discarded, as of too poor quality for anybody to eat. The care, culture, and pruning of an orchard are subjects upon which fruitgrowers differ, and no positive rules can be laid down to govern all cases. I have been of the opinion that the orchard should be cultivated to some hoed crop till coming into bearing, but others think it should always be in grass, or if cropped at all, with buckwheat, occasionally. There is great danger of injur ing the roots by too close or too deep plowing, and bru'sing and barking the tree with the whiffletrees. A common whiffltree should never be used in an orchard. I use oae eighteen inches long, with tug hooked on back side some four or five inches from the end, the tug passing around the end, which is made flat to fit the tug. This never barks the tree, no matter how close you drive. I am experimenting with an acre of young trees in grass, keeping them mulched to kill the grass. I think it may do ; they are looking and growing well. I have lost large trees by faulty pruning when small, which no after-care could remedy. There must be some calculation as to growth and how the tree will look when large. I think no branches should be left directly or nearly opposite each other, for they are apt to crowd the central or leading shoot. Neither should they grow nearly upright, or at too acute an angle, for they are likely to become false, than which nothing is worse ; more trees are ruined from this cause than from any other. We have many trees sent to us from the nursery in very bad shape in this particular. Many a farmer sees nothing wrong, supposing the nurseryman knows better how to prune than he does, and so the tree grows to bearing size and splits to pieces. For this reason I should never order large trees. Small trees lose less roots when dug; have smaller branches to support, and the freight is much less. The farmer who intends to grow a good orchard —and all should The Farmers Orchard. 33 have one — should be a close student of his business and of nature. He should know how to prune for fruit or for growth of wood, and when not to prune at all. The question is often asked, when would you prune? The answer should be, as soon as the tree needs pruning ; any time when you discover a limb or branch that needs removing. Always have your pruning knife with you ; many times it can be done with the thumb and finger, which is better still. For larger branches, say from half-aninch to two inches in diameter, pruning shears are better than saw or chisel. Budding and grafting should be learned. This can be done very easily by studying such works as Barry and Thomas on fruit culture, with a little practice. Every farmer should not only take agricultural and horticultural papers, but also have a good library, with some volumes pertaining to his own calling. Many persons find fault because trees die, and get discouraged about planting any more. I think this is not as good a fruit country as some points of the east or west. But that is not a good argument against the cultivation of fruit. Some localities are not as healthy as others, but this does not deter people from living in such places. We must have fruit. We must raise if we have it in any quantity. There are hardy kinds, of good quality, that will live and bear fruit ; yes, and die too — and the only way is to keep planting as fast as they die, or a little faster. After you have decided how much land you will devote to the orchard, plant it in the best manner possible; tend and care for it with all the intelligence you have and can get. Know all your trees by name, each and every one — you will soon learn which varieties do the best in your orchard. As fast as trees die, plant in others bought of intelligent and honest nurserymen — for I believe there are such — of those kinds that prove the best with you. By setting a few each season I believe pears can be grown, so that a family may have a few bushels at least every year, and where is the farmer that cannot set $2 worth of pear treeseach season? This would buy four trees at retail prices, or eight trees at club rates, purchased of the nurseryman. Experiment with new kinds when you have good evidence that they will be an acquisition ; of course the nurserymen will bring 3 — Hort. 34 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. out the new varieties, and the country, all of us, are very much indebted to them for what they have done in this matter of new varieties which have proven hardy and adapted to our climate. I would not be particular about keeping the trees rowed both ways, in fact I have given that up, and frequently plant in a young tree while the old one, that is going the way of all trees, gives me one or two partial crops more before giving up the ghost entirely ; some say never plant a young tree where an old one has died, the soil has been poisoned, soured, etc. The using of fruit is not only a luxury but a necessity ; it is much better than paying doctor's bills. A good orchard with the varieties of early and late apples in their succession will do much toward making children happy and contented with living on a farm. The love of home is next to the love of country, and pleasant memories of childhood will bind by the strong power of love the youth who leaves the parental roof true to virtuous and noble living. Mr. Plumb said he could heartily commend the views advanced in this paper; they were the result of the practical experience of a practical Iruit-grower. While he approved of the main points in the piper, he should differ in regard to the proportion of summer, fall and winter varieties there recommeuded. He would set more of the last and fewer of the first two. We have too many early varieties. We cannot use them when apples are abundant, and they cannot be sold to advantage with ordinary market facilities. We want more late keeping varieties. These we can use and sell to better advantage. Mr. Stickney remarked that there were two points in the paper which differed from the result of his own experience; one was in the manner of transplanting; instead of pressing the earth gently around the roots and leaving it loose, he would be careful to press it down firmly about the roots. The other point was as to the amount of mulching; he regarded three inches of covering as bet- ter than eight or ten. In reply to an inquiry by President Smith, if he had had any experience with Whitney's No. 20, Mr. Stickney replied that he Annual Meeting — Discussion. 35 had tried it and liked it very much. It was a free bearer, the quality of the fruit was very fine, but one fault was, that it would not retain its flavor but a short time after ripening. This was an objection to it, except for immediate use or quick sales in the market. Mr. Plumb said he could indorse the opinion expressed in re- gard to the quality and excellence of No. 20. It was a crab of much merit. Fruit Growing in Northern Wisconsin. — At the close of this discussion Mr. Plumb spoke of the advantages pos- sessed by northern and especially northeastern Wisconsin for fruit growing, explaining and illustrating the subject by reference to a geological and climatic chart of the state. In the compo- sition of the soil and modifying influences of location and expos- ure, he stated that many portions of Door, Calumet, Brown, Mani- towoc and Kewaunee counties were better adapted to fruit raising especially apples and pears, than the more southern and middle parts of the state. That section of the state might truly be called the Michigan of Wisconsin ; he believed there were many locations in these counties that could compete advantageously with the most favored sections across the lake. He also cited the celebrated pear orchard near Green Bay as proof of this. He be- lieved this orchard was just beginning to do its mission work, and that it is the seed, so to speak, from which many pear orchards will develop throughout that section. There were hundreds of locations in the counties named, and especially Door, where the conditions are just as favorable, as in this orchard, and where, with proper care, investments in fruit culture would yield large and sure returns. Another advantage this section enjoyed was that the codling moth, tent caterpillar and other insect foes are not so prevalent, so destructive as in the southern part of the state. Thursday, June 24. Most of the members availed themselves of the morning hours to visit the well known pear orchard on the Dougherty farm near Green Bay, and also to examine the fine garden of President 36 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Smith and those of his sons, near by. So many were the objects of interest, and so pleasantly passed the time, that it was near the noon hour before the convention gathered in the door yard of the president, where the balance of the session was to be held. Owing to the fact that the dinner hour was near at hand, it was decided to defer business and proceed at once to the discussion of the bountiful provisions for the inner man, prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the hospitable members of the Brown County Society. The tables placed under the native pines in the grounds of our host were soon loaded with good things for the occasion, which Tvere partaken of with great relish and with social good cheer. Dinner over, the president called the convention to order and the reading of the papers on the programme was commenced. Mr. Stone of Appleton came first with a paper entitled, HORTICULTURAL PROGRESS. When we glance at the progress being made in this country we -exclaim : " It is just like them ; it is truly American ! What it takes other countries a century to accomplish, is here but the work • of a decade. And this is more true in no branch than in horti- culture. As the frontiersman clears a patch in the native forest or subdues the open prairie, he begins to plant fruit trees and blooming plants, that his new home may have some of the attrac- tions of civilization. He is encouraged in this from the fact that 'lie usually possesses the soil he tills, instead of being a tenant, subject to the will of some lord. A little idea of the great pro- gress horticulture is making in this county may be formed from •the fact that the products of the garden, in our large cities, can be purchased at a much lower figure than in the large cities of Eu- rope, while the laborer gets much higher wages here than there. Showing that the process has been greatly simplified and systema^ tized, so as to produce greater result with less labor. Although we may not be able to boast as fine parks and botanic gardens ^as the} 7 , yet we do claim that among the masses, horticultural embellishments are greatly in our favor. The old monarchical jdea that it is the duty of the many to labor for the happiness of Horticultural Progress. 3T a privileged few has done much to prevent a general diffusion of horticultural knowledge among the people, with its corresponding; effects on their homes, and when the time comes, as I surely be- lieve it will, that the laborer shall reap the rewards of his labor,, then you will see t greater strides made in horticulture than ever before. There is another reason why the Old World can not advance? as rapidly as the New, although at the first glance it might seem to have the opposite effect. There, a gardener, as in other trades,, is required to serve a certain term of years, say from three to six,. in order to learn his trade. During that time he is taught to do- everything just a3 his tutor before him was taught. Thus robbed of all necessity of thinking and planning for themselves, they be- come mere machines, and instead of studying to see how they may- accomplish the most with the least amount of labor, they rather try to make a long job of a short one. With us many of our most successful horticulturists have taken up the business with- out any previous training in that line, and with the assistance of books, horticultural periodicals, conventions, etc., have made great proficiency in their new calling. They may make many great mistakes and be the subject of ridicule for the old professional gardener, but these very mistakes sharpen their wits and they in- quire into the cause of their failures and the best means of shun- ning them in the future. Moreover, their time is their own andi they will try and apply their labor in a way that will accomplish the most with the least exertion, and while their hands are en- gaged in their duties, their minds are busy planning some imr provement in their business. Our overdue reverence for old institutions and superstitions does; much to hinder our progress, not only as a nation but as horticul- turists. Our colleges consume about three- fourths of thestudents r time in studying the history, languages and superstitions of na- tions far inferior in civilization, enlightenment and the arts and sciences to our own. And after the student graduates, he is but little better fitted for advancing civilization or the arts and- sciences than he would be if he had never seen the inside of a college. If more time were devoted to scientific studies 38 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. and original researches into the great undeveloped future, and less in delving into the ruins and ashes of the past, we would find our people would reap an hundred fold more benefit from our schools than they do at present. Any branch of horticulture would afford a fertile field for the investigations of a whole army of students, and the more they would investigate it the broader the field would become. We can scarcely realize the important position horticul- ture holds in our social economy. The demand for the products of the garden and orchard increase in a much faster ratio than the population. With iucreased facilities for transportation and the improved processes for drying and canning fruits, they have become an every day necessity, even to the masses, and the more labor saving machinery is introduced and the more wealth ac- cumulates, the greater will be the necessity for extending our productions, in order to draw the wealth from those who have an abundance and give labor and the means of living to the laborer, thus making all happy and contented. Mrs. Lewis, of Madison, followed with a paper on PSYCHOLOGY OF COUNTRY LIFE. Were I to choose a text, I think it would be one like this, il Oh Lord how manifold are Thy works ! in wisdom hast Thou made them all; I he earth is full of Thy riches." How little many of us realize what a blessing it is to live in a land full to over- flowing with the best of earth's riches ; with food and clothing in abundance ; wilh the most intelligent people and the best govern- ment in the world ; with healthful Eeasons of heat and cold ; with excellent soil for producing grain, grass and fruits, and yet how little we heed these rich blessings; we take them as our rights and forget to give anything in exchange for them. We sometimes could almost wish that green leaves, lovely flowers, and singing birds, would refuse or forget to obey nature's calling for single year, or month, just long enough to properly awaken our slumbering sensibilities to the obligations we owe to God and man. The earth, sun, moon and stars, that have been objects of such veneration to millions of earth's inhabitants since the begin- Psychology of Country Life. 39 ning of time, are nothing to many of us but servants who are to warm, feed and clothe our bodies. Why is this? I believe in the main it is because we are wrongly educated. We go to school to learn something of the ancient Greeks and Romans, of Alex- ander, and Napoleon, of French and Latin, but of ourselves and this wonderful life about us we know but little. I would not like to be understood as condemning classical studies — far from it; but from the infant school onward we would have the young instructed in Natural History. By this course of study they would early become familiar with nature and her laws, and with the life that is about them, and life would become greatly en- riched ; lives that are being frittered away on sensational reading, cards, vain society, and useless fancy work. The eminent Dr. Playfair says : " The whole yearnings of the child are for the natural phenomena around him, until they are smothered by the ignorance of the parent. He is a young Lin- naeus roaming over the fields in search of flowers. He is a young conchologist or mineralogist gathering shells or pebbles on the seashore. He is an ornithologist and goes bird-nesting; an icthjologist and catches fish. Glorious education in nature is all this if the teachers know how to utilize it." We are not educated in country or city until we can name all the birds of the air, the animals and insects of the field, and know of their haunts and habits. We should name all of nature's plants, and understand their virtues, and upon turning the soil know what it is, and how it was made, and tell at a glance whether the rocks dug out of it were formed by fire or water. We should know much of the clouds and wind currents, of summer's heat and winter's cold. We want to be educated in the living truths of the living present. Thomas Carlyle wrote: " For many years it has been one of my constant regrets that no school master of mine had a knowledge of natural history, so far at least as to have taught me the names and habits of the little winged and wingless neighbors that are continually meeting me with a salutation which I cannot answer, as things are." How much I want women to enjoy this science of true and happy living, for it makes the very atmosphere full of love, light, 40 Wisconsin State Hobticultural Society. music and peace. Then she can gather roses where others gather thorns ; then she can never grow old, no matter how much the body decays. We see so many women about us who are actually dying of mental starvation, or stagnation, as you may be pleased to call it, that if I could lead one dispirited woman, whose heart is full of pain, in this sweet path by living waters, I would feel content. There is no denying the fact that life in the country, to many women, is but a ceaseless routine of endless work, care and disappointment, and as they look into the future nothing but work, work, work, seems to beckon them on. Is it any wonder that after struggling on for years against fate, many of them be- come morbid, fretful and unreasonable, so much so that love is withdrawn from them, soon health and hope is gone forever, and many of them become subjects for the insane asylum — for statis- tics are showing that a much larger proportion of farmers' wives are becoming insane than of any other class. This is a dark pic- ture, and one I would gladly turn from could I do so. It is next to impossible for a man who is out in the opeu fields, in sunshine and storms, among stock and growing crops, to under- stand what the needs of his wife are, the routine of whose life must, of necessity, be monotonous and warping. It has been said of her that it is nothing outside of her that kills, but what is within. She needs more love, sunshine, sympathy, society and books ; something for mind as well as body. Every intelligent and kind-hearted farmer ought to understand this more fully, and insist upon his wife's taking respite from care for a certain time each day, if she will do it, for himself; for he as well as she will reap the reward. The body must be recreated after severe toil, and the mind must be wholly fieed from care for a time, until reaction takes place. Each person must select the kind of recrea-* tion most suited to his or her wants. Every farmer's table should be supplied with the most palatable and digestible food. Good health and common sense teach this, but there is no necessity of a woman's being a slave to pies and cakes. Many women feel that they would be of little value to their households were they to omit making and baking a ton of cake and a thousand pies a year. Let us be sensible and adopt Psychology of Country Life. 41 • the English and German custom of simple living, and discard, if necessary (which it probably is not), both pies and cakes for free- dom and smiling faces. Living to gratify only the animal wants is a very low form of existence. L^t us not sell the soul to the body, but have higher aims and aspirations, for God has planted them in our hearts. "Then sing the song that gladdens — Leave out the sad refrain ; Raise up the drooping spirit, And thou'll not have lived in vain. O, glorious life ! to feel the thrill, To live, to work, and sing! O, golden hours ! drift slowly by ; Life is a priceless thing." One of the most encouraging signs of the times is that women as well as men, are becoming deeply interested in self-culture. Thousands of women are taking the Chatauqua, or Boston course of study, and graduating at home. Clubs or societies for the study of art, history, botany, natural history, and household science, are being established in every city and village; and why should the people of the country-town be behind. Can- not every country-town organizs and sustain a society or club of men and women students, who will come together weekly, semi- weekly, or monthly, on Saturday nights, after the week's work is done, to study from the book of nature, as it is opened and re- vealed to them day after day? Nowhere can natural science and natural history be so successfully studied as in the open field3, deep waters, and quiet woods of the country. A year's careful study, at times not missed from the daily avocations of life, would give a "paradise of intellectual enjoyment" unknown before. People living in the country should make friends with nature. Then there can be no such thing as isolation ; for nature is a com- panion and teacher that speaks a thousand tongues to her ad- mirers as she constantly unfolds her mysteries that are so old — yet ever new. Wordsworth says : "Nature never did betray The heart that loved her; 'tis her privilege Through all the years of this our life to lead From joy to joy ; for she can so inform 42 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. The mind that is -within us, so impress With quietness, and beauty, and so feed With lofty thoughts, that neither evil tongues, Rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish men, Nor greetings where no kindness is, nor all The dreary intercourse of daily life Shall e'er prevail against us, or disturb Our cheerful fiith that all that we behold Is full of blessings." Beecher and Greeley, Parker and Alcott, and a host of other large-brained men have said that they considered it the best part of an education to have been born and brought up in the country. Some writer has said that " if there is a room in every farmer's house where the work of the family is done, there should be'a room in every farmer's house where the family should live ; where beauty should appeal to the eye ; where genuine comfort of appointments should invite to repose; where books should be gathered; where neatness and propriety of dress should be ob- served, and where labor may be forgotten. The life here should be labors exceeding great reward. A family living like this, and there are families that live thus, will ennoble and beautify all their surrounding?. There will be trees at their door, and flowers in their garden, and pleasant and architectural ideas in their dwellings. Human life will stand in the foreground of such a home. Human life, crowned with its dignities and graces, while animal life will be removed among the shadows, and the gross material utilities, tastefully disguised, will be made to retire in an unoffending and harmonious perspective." However mean and humble life in the country may be, meet it and live it, and love it, and study ways and means to make the children love it. Teach them to interest themselves in every- thing about them. Train their eyes to see and their ears to hear, and listen occasionally with them in the twilight of the morning to the first bird's call, far, far away, to the answering voices nearer, until hill and dale echoes and re-echoes with earth's sweetest melody. And, as you listen in this enchanted hour, view with them the sun as it silently rises in the east, painting a picture of wonderful beauty where before all was darkness and desolation. " Can Imagination boast, Amid its gay creation, hues like this ? " Psychology of Country Life. 43 Everything in nature is awakened by this new force. The nodding flowers shake off! the pearly dew and stand erect; soon is heard the lowing of the cattle, the neighing of the horse, crowing of the cock, the barking of dogs, the tinkle of the sheep bell, the milkmaid's merry song, the plough boy's honest laugh, and the earnest voices of the workers, all mingling together in one grand symphony. No earnest healthy nature can participate in such a scene as this without sending up a prayer of thankful- ness to God, the giver and maker. Cling to the farm, take root and grow there, teach the young people to beautify, adore, and adorn it, and make the home the one sweet spot on earth whose price is above rubies. And take the old German motto for your own : " While I live I ascend," and life will be a success, and as you advance into the sweet autumn of life, time will so mellow and sweeten you, that before you pass to the great beyond, Heaven will appear almost io view. Mr. Huntly said it was a sad thought that the description so graphically drawn was true of many farmers' homes to-day. Could they but attend these meetings and hear such papers, or have them to read in their homes, it would not fail to produce a great improvement in their comfort and happiness. Mr. Plumb said every parent should try to preserve the natural instincts of the child, as he comes in contact with nature. Culti- vate and encourage the development of his tastes when closely manifested towards any special subject. It is wrong to force children into channels for which they are not adapted, both in taste and inclination. He cited an instance where a fond mother was anxious to see her son a professor, and educated him for that position, and after a few years of attempts to carry out his mother's desires, he returned home a disheartened man, mourning that his education had been a failure, his life misspent in fitting for and trying to be what was at variance with his tastes, his nature. 44 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Mrs. A. Kerr, of Madison, read a paper in regard to TREE PLANTING. A small boy who knew more about trees than he did about grammars and dictionaries, was asked by his younger brother what the word idiot meant. " Don't you know," said Ben, "an idiot is a person who doesn't know an Arbor Yitae from a Pine — he doesn't know anything." There are a good many people in the world who would hardly be sane, judged by Ben's "terrible test." To them a tree is a tree; something to be cut down and hauled off. The farmer whose home is in the woods look's on the trees about him as interlopers, who have pre-empted the land which he wants to sow with wheat or plant with corn. They are not friends but foes which he must exterminate before he can have acknowl- edged ownership of the land for which he has paid his hard- earned dollars. The lumberman sees in trees so many feet of logs to be taken to the saw-mill, destined to reappear at no distant day in the form of houses and fences. For more than two centuries the one great achievement of Americans, has been to cut down trees. When the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, an unbroken forest stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the western prairies, and. tree by tree, that forest has been felled. The man with the ax has been hailed as the herald of progress, and the echo of his sturdy blows resound- ing through the woods has been the announcement of advancing civ- ilization. The first president of these United States was the boy with the little hatchet who cut his father's cherry-tree, while the no- ble Lincoln is known to every one as "Honest Abe, the rail splitter." But now a change has come. The warnings of the clerk of the weather are being emphasized by our own experience. The signs of the times are really alarming. Our springs are later, our sum- mers are dryer, our winters are more unreliable, and we are as- sured by the scientists of two continents, that these evils, and other more serious evils which threaten us, are caused by the wholesale destruction of these forests. Something ought to be done. We must not only stop cutting down the trees which remain but we Tree Planting. 45 must plant others. Somebody has said that the sentiment which has prompted the tree planting organization at the west and caused a day to be set apart for a united, voluntary public effort in this behalf, is akin to that which set on foot our charitable and mis- sionary societies. That is, we find that things have been going wrong and we decide to face about and try to set them right. Yes, we must plant trees. It has been estimated that ten years hence not less than 20,- 000,000 railroad ties will be needed annually, while the immense consumption of lumber of all kinds will be greatly increased. Is it not worth our while to consider how we may provide for this certain demand of the future? A step in the right direction has been taken by the people of New York state, where a bill has. been introduced into the legislature making it obligatory upon every county to spend $500 yearly to encourage tree planting. I am told that "our agricultural population is not easily convinced of this necessity ; that the benefits are too vague, the profits too prospective to cause them to look with enthusiasm on what seems a doubtful undertaking.!* I shall not attempt to convince them. Let them read in the Popular Science Monthly and the reports of state boards of agriculture able and conclusive argu- ments. But let us plant trees. And what shall we plant? The good, old-fashioned farmer will tell us to plant the Lombardy Poplar. It does not take up much room; you can set it by the roadside and it will not overshadow the growing crops. But do you not know that it was brought from Italy, and that its tender constitution cannot bear the vigor of our northern winters? Have you not noticed how every spring bears witness to the decay of its branches, and that it becomes prematurely old? Let us not plant the Lombardy Poplar. Shall we plant the locust tree? When the prairies were first settled thrifty farmers had a fashion of bringing with them from the east a little bag filled with the seed of the locust, aud on many a farm was seen a locust grove. The rapid growth of its straight and lofty stem, covered with a thick irregularly furrowed bark and furnished with rude strong branches, made it widely sought for as screen to check the force of the cold winds on the wide and 46 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. unobstructed plains. But now it seems to have few advocates ; if for no other reason, because the locust tree borer has made such inroads upon it that comparatively few healthy specimens re- main. We will not plant the locust tree. If we are from Old England we shall have a bias in favor of the oak, that tree which has long been the emblem of strength, and grandeur. — For in England many "A cottage chimney smokes From betwixt two aged oaks." Divine honors were formerly paid to this tree by the ancient Druids, and it is now hardly less sacred in the eyes of the inhab- itants by reason of its usefulness to the human family, as well as from its classic and historical association?. Many species of oak are indigenous to the American Continent. The whits oak bears most resemblance to the classical tree; the red oak, the most northerly species, exceeds all others in size; the common black oak is used for fuel, while the evergreen oak, a common wayside tree at the South, is one of the most beautiful. IndeeJ, it may be said, that to the majority of the human race the oak is the favorite tree. Let us plant oaks. If we are natives of New England, we associate all that is de- lightful in scenery and much that is dear to memory with the elm. It has for us a sacredness which no other tree possesses. We remember the low-roofed cottage over which that venerated tree spread it broad and benevolent branches, as though it would' shield from sin and sorrow all who dwelt under its shadow. We remember the spreading elm on the village play-ground, where as happy children we gathered during the sultry hours of summer and talked of what we should do when we should be men and women. And can we ever forget that long, noble avenue, formed of elms, the favorite resort of old and young alike ? Oh, if we would keep our hearts fresh and young as the years go by, let us plant elms. We must not forget the Maple, of which there are ten species enumerated by Gray as belonging to the United States ; a tree of rare beauty of outline, and whose autumnal tints of gold, scarlet Tree Planting. 47 and crimson recommend it for an ornamental tree; nor the linden, •better known by its prosaic name of Basswood. Then there is a very well known and a very common tree, celebrated for its use- fulness rather than its beauty, confined to the western continent, unknown in other parts of the world, — the Hickory ; it is a term indicative of a sturdy and vigorous character and may be taken as emblematical of our hardy yeomanry. The squirrels plant it ; let us allow it to grow. But why do I rehearse these names fam- iliar to you all ? — We have but to open our eyes on this beautiful June day, when each tree is hanging out its leafy banners, and choose the ones that please us most ; and when the revolving year brings around the spring, let us not forget to plant trees. I have read that in Spain they have a proverb, which has been in use in that country for centuries : — " He who plants trees loves others besides himself." And it is said that whenever a Spaniard eats a peach, a cherry or a pear by the roadside, he makes a little hole in the ground with his foot and plants the stone, and in that sunny southern land the most t:mpting fruits are free to all. Here in our rigorous climate we must exercise great care if we would insure even moderate success. In planting a tree "handle it gently, as if you loved it," as Isaac Walton bids the angler do with his worm ; plant it as if you were tucking a child away for the night, or as Bryant says : — "gently lay the roots, and there Lilt the dark nrnld with kindly care, And press it o'er them tenderly As 'round the sleeping infant's feet We softly fold the cradle-sheet." Did you ever know a tree which was planted in that careful way to refuse to grow ? Trees must have something in common with children, else why do we call the place where both are reared, "the nursery?" Or, why so fond of that old saying, "Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined," which we are fond of applying to growing boys. Children and trees alike need room, and sunlight and tender care. If we love trees then, we shall not plant a mis shapen tree, or a stunted tree, or one whose root has been frozen or dried up. We know it is worse than useless to plant a tree which will ever re- 48 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. main a cumberer of the ground. Hence we shall beware of tree- peddlers, and shall pay careful attention to the catalogues furnish- ed by good and reliable dealers, those men who belong to our horticultural societies. But if I teach you to regard tree planting from a practical point of view merely, I have failed of saying all I would. That Scot- tish Laird was worldly wise, who while on his death-bed, gave this parting advice to his son : " Jock, when ye hae naething else to do, ye may be aye sticking in a tree, it will be growing, Jock, when ye're sleeping." But that old Roman, Cicero, was wiser than his generation, when he wrote, "If any should ask the aged cultivator for whom he plants, let him not hesitate to make this reply: 'For the immortal gods, who, as they willed me to inherit these possessions from my forefathers, so would have me hand them on to those that shall come after me." Let us ennoble our daily living by the high purposes we carry in our hearts. "What more delightful time for this reunion than delicious June? " Then, if ever, come perfect days." We gather from city and village and farm house to take each other by the hand, to speak a word of cheer and to get courage for that which the future has in store. " No matter how barren the past may have been 'Tis enough for us now that the leaves are green," sings the poet. Let us take with us through all the year the glad- ness and the confiding trust which come to us with these rare June days ; and as we go forth from beneath the shadow of these sheltering pine trees — the survivors of the " forest primeval," let us return to our homes with a new strength gained from commun- ion with nature and with one another. HORTICULTURE IN Quit HOMES. 49 The next paper was read by J. S. Stickney, of Wauwato?a, on WHAT SHOULD BORTICULTURE DO FOR OUR HOMES? It should furnish the poetry, the music and the pictures of our everyday lives. As we go and come, the varying landscape, the trees, grouped by nature's own hand, or modified, Dot always im- proved, by our efforts; the shrub, the climbing vine, the wayside flower, the waving grain, the smooth green pasture?, with here and there a glimpse of river or lake, should each and all impress upon us a feeliDg of coolness and comfort, rest and happiness, imperv- ious to the common fret and worry of business life. From the delicious strawberries of June to the noble apples of autumn and winter, our senses of sight, smell and taste should be gratified, our appetites stimulated, our bio >d co)led and purified, our bodies healthfully nourished and strengthened. Taking all these as nature gives them, it should be our work and our pleasure to improve and increase them, and to gather them so liberally about our homes that we may be constantly within their influence. Yes, all this should be, but it is not, neither do we expect that it will be, for degrees of skill, effort and progress, come as natur- ally into our horticulture, as into our agriculture or mechanic arts. Yet it is a little strange, when the love of, and taste for the good and beautiful is so universal, we should be so easily turned aside and discouraged. Send a hundred children to the woods for May flowers and notice the eager pleasure with which every one searches and gathers. Is it not safe to look a little further on and see them all cultivating flowers ? Lead the same party through orchard or garden attbe proper season, and the owner thereof will not doubt their hearty approval and appreciation of ripe fruit. If these are not the material for horticulturists and horticultural societies, where are we to find it? Yes, the material is abundant and good, but how sadly do we waste and spoil it in the working! The child is passionately fond of flowers. Very simple flowers they may be, wild violets and daisies, or grass pinks and sweet peas, as easy of culture as corn and potatoes. From his earliest 4 — Hort. 50 Wisconsix State Horticultural Society. days he sees the corn and potatoes carefully planted, cultivated, harvested, stored. They are thought about and talked about, until they become part and parcel of all his plans. This is as it should be, for these and kindred things are the very beginning and foundation of all prosperity. They nourish our bodies ; but in our zeal for them we too often forget the needs of our finer natures. Right here we too often lose sight of thafloveof the beautiful in our little child which has such need of nourishment, culture and training. Right here it seems to me our work begins. True, to be teachers we must have knowledge, and, in most cases, it is equally true that our e:u'!y surroundings, teachings and oppor- tunities were far less than we are ambitious to give to our children ; but the past is no longer ours, its record remains, as will the record of each succeeding day, but our business is only with the present, and whatever we lack must be supplied, if at all, by extra effort and diligence. Earnest, enthusiastic interest on the part of parents, can hardly fail to kindle similar interest with the children. Undertaking only what can be well done and then carrying our work through to a perfect success, will sustain and increase the interest of both parent and children. If time and means are limited, our begin- nings may be very simple and inexpensive and yet bring their full quota of pleasure. No seed was ever more eagerly sought and carefully planted than that from which I grew my first double sunflower. People of fine tastes, who could see beauty only in roses, smiled, but my harvest of real pleasure was as great as theirs. No crop has seemed more valuable to me than that gath- ered from the dozen plants of wild black raspberries dug from the fence corners and planted in my first garden. Ten pear seedlings, bought with my pocket money, grafted and planted with my boy- ish hands, were of more interest to me than acres of them have been since; and in fact I have often done a less successful job, for eight out of the ten grew, and came to maturity. Similar objects of interest are all about us, abundant, cheip, and wasting for want of use ; so, want of means can have no place among our excuses. Want of time may have more weight. This is such a hurrying world, impatient even of steam and electricity, pushing us through Horticulture in Our Homes. 51 schools and colleges at eighteen and twenty, and prematurely into all the responsibilities of life, that the plea of no time seems at first thought allowable. Yet, even amid this baste, are there Eot in all our lives, many hours worse than wasted, which, if spent in horticultural pursuits, would bring pleasure rather than a blank or a pain? Believiug that these things are possible and practica- ble, let us possess and use them. Into our lives and the early lives of those about us, let us weave all that we can of the good and the beautiful. Such work and such pleasure need, ye3, to be fully successful, must have the cooperation of all the members of the family. Very helpful to the little one is an encouraging suggestion or a moment's aid from the parent; very stimulating to the parent is the evident interest and admiration of the younger members. Efforts hv the "rulers without," to locate stables and pig-stys in retirement ; to remove unused farm implements from their promi- nent resting places into a place of shelter prepared for them; to deposit all rubbish on the woodpile or compost heap ; to remove from the house surroundings all worthless wepds and grow choice grasses instead ; to plant here and there a flowering shrub, or group of noble trees; to place upon the well-kept lawn a bed of flowers, a vase, or at least, the present very popular heap of stones or in- verted stump, nicely filled or covered with creeping plants and flowers, all these will be appreciated and enjoyed by the "rulers within " and will fiud their counterpart in neatness and good order; in well chosen pictures upon the walls; choice flowers from the field and the garden will grace the table and mantel, rich autumn leaves will beautify curtain and wall. Luscious fruits in their season will adorn the table and be made a prominent part of the daily food. The sitting room will be a reading room as well, but among the books and periodicals there will be no place for the dime novel, and in the 3 7 oung minds interested in the good, the real, the useful, there will be no room or call for its teachings. Reading, music and social games will make the long winter even- ings seasons of improvement and happiness, remembered with unalloyed pleasure by all, and in time to be re-enacted by each child in homes of their own. 52 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. This is our gala day, and I will bring to you no plodding con- siderations of dollars and cents, but, for the sake of contrast, suppose we arrange along the broad highway we are traveling, all the places adorned with the things we have described on our right hand, and all those where they are wanting on the left. Com- mence, if you please, with the beautifully and highly kept public parks of our cities, where the hurried and overworked people may, at intervals, enjoy an hour of cool and refreshing rest, and over against them, our glittering aud equally costly theatres and Sunday beer gardens. They have many things in common ; fine music and high decorative art lend their aid to both. Each has its votaries by thousands, and to these, each brings more or less pleasure. Yet which, and the after memories and influences of which, would we choose for ourselves and our children? Passing on to the homes of our millionaires, the right hand far back among green lawns and spreading trees ; the left high and broad, most elaborately adorned by sculpture and gilding, close upon the street, approached by polished marble steps ; to which would you most hopefully apply for a cup of cold water ? Were our onward movement by car or omnibus, would there not be an active demand for seats facing to the right? Were our errand to find congenial society, or a pleasant boarding place, the left would have few attractions for us. If in a speculative frame of mind, and inclined to divine the character and qualities of people by their surroundings, which line of delineation will be most pleasing? Far on down the line, among the log cabins, board shanties and sod houses, a single house plant, or a morning glory by the porch, will still attract us to the right, while a glance to the left will almost make us feel that it might better have been left a blank. Now you will say, and I shall freely admit, that I have not very closely followed my text, yet, whatever else I have presented is so mingled and blended, and, in influence, so much in harmony with horticulture that it seemed easier, if not wiser, to present them as I have. What I most earnestly desire to impress is the simplicity of horticulture; coming right down to the wants and capacities of the most humble and inexperienced, yet leading Object Lessons from Life. 53 rapidly onward, step by step, always paying as we go, to the choicest fruits and flowers, and the most elaborate ornamentation, being in all its moral and intellectual influences so pure, unselfish and elevating as to become one of the strongest, safest and pleas- antest bonds of paternal and fraternal union and companionship. An eminent horticulturist writes: " I never see a pink, a poppy, or a Sweet William, without thinking of my mother. And I bless God that she is associated with such pleasant memories." Though he is now far advanced in successful horticultural ex- periences, I am sure the pleasures of those early recollections have never been excelled. Now, the question comes to each of U3, how much of all of this can we make our own? I do not forget that to all of usj who are carrying the active responsibilities of life, business cares are often heavy, and material prosperity sennas all important, but let us " make haste slowly." Important as these things are, we need something else as well. We must have the hearty interest and co-operation of the boys and girls, and I know of no better way to get this than by ''changing works; " step smilingly down from our position of dignity, authority and responsibility, and become boys and girls ourselves. Let us have play uty, Seth Boyden and Sharpless, and he would set at least one-half of the first variety named and the oth- ers in equal proportion. The Green Prolific was not a perfect plant, but was a heavy bearer when set alongside of the Wilson. The Prouty was a self-fertilizer and a great bearer. The berries were soft, and peculiar in form, and of a mild and pleasant flavor. He did not regard the Seth Boyden quite as desirable as a bearer or in quality, but it was a good berry and with him yielded satis- factorily. Sharpless was of excellent quality, berries large and showy, vines strong and vigorous and moderately productive. The Crescent was a strong grower ; took full possession of the ground. It will yield as many quarts, perhaps, as the Wilson, Prouty and Green Prolific, but the berries are moderate in size, too soft for shipment and were lacking in quality. He picked his first berries of it this season, and the yield in quantity was re- markable. Mr. Plumb agreed in regard to the value of the varieties named. He cultivated the Green Prolific a long time ago and had dropped it, and taken it up again and will hang to it. It bears well with him; was the only berry that yielded half a crop the past season. The Sharpless was lacking in hardiness; was a Strawberries. 67 strong grower, but was liable to be injured in the winter. He would add to Mr. Stickney's list, one-eighth of the Crescent. He had picked his first bushel of berries this year from it. It was nearly two weeks earlier than the Wilson. The berries are earlier * on high ground, and of better quality ; on a heavy clay soil there is a greater growth of vine, larger berries and greater yield, but the quality of the fruit is not as good. It is not a perfect plant, and does better planted by the side of the Wilson, Prouty or Seth Boyd en. Mr. Peffer would raise the Wilson alone, for profit. The Seth Boyden had yielded well with him, but he would not raise it for market purposes. Did not consider it a perfect plant. Pres. Smith was better pleased with the Crescent than he ex- pected to be ; thought it was worth keeping, and should continue to raise it. It was a wonderful grower, and bore heavily ; the berry was too soft for shipment, was very fragrant, but of inferior qual- ity. It ripened with him a week earlier than the Wilson, and continued in bearing as long. He also raised the Kentucky, as it was a late berry and added a week to the length of the season ; would raise a few of Seth Boyden for home use, but not for mar- ket. The Downer's Prolific was a good table berry, but worthless for shipping. With him, the Crescent had suffered the most from drought. In reply to an inquiry by Mr. Huntley, if it were possible to lengthen the berry season by a heavy covering of the beds, Mr. Peffer said he had tried the experiment by covering half of a bed with marsh hay ; the half that was not covered gave the first picking on the 31st of May; the covered, on June 15th, and the berries were the largest. Left the mulch on until the crowns pushed up through, and pulled the weeds by hand; the other half was cultivated in the fall. Mr. Stickney said it would be difficult to mulch four or five acres, and he thought it would pay better to lay out the same amount of labor on one or two acres. He made a practice of com- posting the beds at the time the plants were sending out the first runners; put on about fifteen loads of compost to the acre, to crowd the growth of the plants. The first runners were guided 68 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. into the line of the rows, and the later ones were cut off. Culti- vated in this way, one acre yields more than two usually do. The proceeds from the plants was generally as great with them as from the fruit, Mr. M. S. George, proprietor of the Western Rural, was elected an honorary member of the societ}'. Resolutions tendering the thanks of the two societies to the railroad companies for their courtesy in granting reduced rates to those attending; to the citi- zens of Green Bay for their hospitality and kindly interest mani- fested, and to President Smith and family for their generous pro- vision to promote the comfort and convenience of the members present, were passed, and the societies adjourned. A social meet- ing was held in the evening at the exhibition in the Armory Hall, at the close of which the final adjournment took place. FRUIT AND FLOWER EXHIBITION. The display of fruit, plants and flowers made at the Armory Hall was excellent, and the taste displayed in the arrangement and the management of the exhibition was greatly to the credit of those who had the matter in charge. The display of strawberries was large and fine. There was a very large collection of rare and choice house and green house plants from the conservatories and private houses of Green Bay and from Appleton. The collection of cut flowers, floral designs, and bouquets was large and mag- nificent. One of the most attractive features of the exhibition was the display of wild flowers, native ferns and mosses. The fol- lowing are the AWARDS MADE. STRAWBERRIES. Best exhibition of strawberries, Stickney & Von Baumbacb, Wauwatosa. Second best, Geo. J. Kelloeg, Janesville. Best quart of Wilson, J. M. Smith, Green Bay. Second best, Mr. Spence, Fort Howard. Best quart Seth Boyden, Stickney & Von Baumbach. Second best, J. M. Smith. Best quart Sharpless, Stickney & Von Baumbach. Best quart Crescent Seedling-, J. M. Smith. Second best. Geo. J. Kellogg. Best quart Charles Downing, Stickney & Von Baumbach. Second best, Geo. J. Kellogg. Best quart Kentucky, J. M. Smith. Second best, Geo. J. Kellogg. Awards Made. 69 VEGETABLES. Largest and best exhibition of garden products, J. J. Bader, Preble. Second best, J. M. Smith. Largest and best six heads of lettuce, J. M. Smith. Second best, A. A. Warren, Green Bay. Largest and best six bunches asparagus, J. M. Smith. Largest and best six bunches radishes, J. J. Bader. Second best, J. M. Smith. Largest and best display of pie plant, John Spence. Second best, J. M. Smith. FLOWERS AND HOUSE PLANTS. Largest and best collection of house plants, Mrs. H. F. Spencer, Green Bay. Second best, Mrs. Tilton, Green Bay. Largest and best fuchsias, Miss Burns, Green Bay. Second best, Mrs. D. C. Ayres, Green Bay. Largest and best hanging basket, Mrs. H. F. Spencer. Second best, Mrs. Tilton. Largest and best begonias, Mrs. H. F. Spencer. Second best, Mrs. Tilton. Largest and best collection ot plants from spring cuttings, Mrs. H. F. Spen- cer. Second best, Mrs. D. C. Ayre3 Largest and best calla, Mrs. H. F. Spencer. Second best, Mrs Tilton. Largest and best geraniums, Mrs. H. F. Spencer. Largest and best collection foliage plants, Mrs. H. F. Spencer. Second best, Mrs. D. C. Ayres. Largest and best show hardy roses, Geo. C. Wirth, Fort Howard. Second best, A. Stone, Appleton. Most tasty and best floral design, Theo. Nochle, Green Bay. Second best, A. Stone. Largest and best disply pansies, A. Stone. Second best, Geo. C. Wirth. Largest and best display cut flowers, Geo. C. Wirth. Second best, A. Stone. Best bouquet, Theo. Nochle. Second best, A. Stone. Largest and best display verbenas, A. Stone. Best bouquet from house plants, Mrs. J. M. Smith. Second best, Miss Bader, Preble. GREEN HOUSE PLANTS. Largest and best collection green house plants, Geo. C. Wirth. Second best, Theo. Nochle. Largest and best show cacti, Theo. Nochle. Second best, Geo. C. Wirth. Largest and best calla, Theo. Nochle. Second best, A. Stone. Largest and best century plant, A. Stone. Largest and best oleander in bloom, Theo. Nochle. Sweepstakes on green house plants, A. Stone. FERNS, MOSSES AND WILD FLOWERS. Largest and best show native ferns. Miss Emma Cowles, Scott. Largest and best show mosses, lichens and licopodiums, Miss Vira Campbell, Scott. Second best, Miss Lizzie Kowbotham, Preble. Largest and best show wild flowers, Miss Lizzie Rowbotham. Second best, Vira Campbell. Third best, Miss Etta Potter, Pittsfield. 70 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Best floral design, Miss Vira Campbell. Best wild cactus, Mrs. C. Lawson, Howard. Best bouquet wild flowers by child of 13 years and under, class A, Miss Nellie Boyden, Pittsfield. Second best. Miss Josie Rowbotbam, Preble. Thiid best, Miss Bessie Campbell, Scott. Best bouquet wild flowers by child of 13 years and under, class B, Miss Katie McMann, Fort Howard. Second best, Miss Lucinda Wilson, Pittsfield. Special mention was made of a very fine collection of green house plants, not entered for competition, from the private conservatory of Mrs. Rufus B. Kellogg, Green Bay. MEETING FOR DISCUSSION HELD xYT THE STATE FAIR Agricultural Rooms. Madison, Wis., September 8, 1880. The State Horticultural Society had no official connection with the exhibition of fruits and flowers at the state fair of 1880, but the iuterest taken by the individual members of the society was fully as great as in former years, and most of the usual exhibitors and attendants were present. A meeting for discussion was announced for Wednesday even- ing, at the agricultural rooms in the capitol. and at the hour appointed the society was called to order by President Smith. Summer Meetings. — In opening the discussion, he gave a brief account of the June meetings held at Baraboo and Green Bay, and assured the society that from what he had seen of the good results of these meetings, especially in connection with their Brown county society, he was most fully convinced that it was the duty of the state society to enter more largely into this work. He was confident there was no other way in which we could do so much good as by thus co-operating with these local societies and encouraging them in their work. He resrretted that but two societies responded to the offer made to hold these summer meet- ings, and would be glad if the balance of the sum set apart by the society for this work could be used for this purpose during the fall or winter. Mr. Pilgrim proposed that the unexpended $200 be offered in equal amounts to any four local horticultural societies that would comply with the conditions proposed for the June meetings. Meeting for Discussion Held at the State Fair. 71 The secretary stated that propositions had been made by one or two societies to hold such conventions and exhibitions in the fall, in connection with their county fairs, but it seemed to him >his would not be advisable, for various reasons. The most important part of these exhibitions, and that from which, the greatest benefit is derived, is the meeting for the reading of papers, and discus- sions held in connection \uth them, and that in this, the busy sea- son of the year, and the excitement attendant upon our couoty fairs, but little interest would be felt in this part of the work ; but few would be present, and the sessions would be very brief and unsatisfactory. Again, if this plan were adopted, all the county fairs would be willing and anxious to receive the aid offered, and the money would go in with the receipts of the fairs, adding but little, if anything, to the exhibition, and be without any benefit, so far as the object for which it was appropriated is concerned. Mr. Philips was in favor of fixing the time for holding these meetings to December and January. After a brief discussion, the following resolution was introduced by Mr. Plumb : Resolved, That the remainder of the appropriation set apart by the Society for the advancement of the interests of horticulture in the state may be ex- pended during the portion of the society year after the first of December, in the manner originally proposed, provided such exhibitions shall be strictly in the interests of horticulture and for the encouragement of local horticultural societies alone. Carried. The same provisions were made for the payment of the ex- penses of those who furnished papers and addresses for the meet- ings thus held. Blight and Mildew. — Mr. Peffer, in response to a call for remarks on the peculiarities of the season, stated that there had been more blight and mildew in his section than usual. This was the leaf blight, not what is commonly called fire blight. The cause was atmospheric; heat and sudden changes. The season had been warm and moist ; growth was rapid. In the hot weather and with a hot wind, the tips of the leaves curled up, and the 72 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. dew falling on them at night, and the hot dry air by day, turned them black, killing the leaf, and poisoning the tender wood. The more rapid the growth and the thinner the leaf, the greater the liability to this blight and to mildew. The apple trees were quite generally affected this way, both the fruit and leaf. Plum trees were injured a good deal by the same cause, so that they shed their foliage and fruit, and when the wet weather came on again, new leaves and blossoms started out. In reply to inquiries how to prevent mildew and blight, he gave the application of sulphur, whitewash and salt for the first, and cutting off the limbs where affected with blight, and peeling off the injured bark. Mr. Philips thought that these remedies were not wholly satis- factory, on account of the amount of labor required in large orchards. The remedy recommended by Mr. Purdy and also Mr. Jordan, of Minnesota, who was with us last winter, was the ap- plication of a whitewash ma f le of quick lime and sulphur. He had recently been over to Mr. Jordan's orchard, and found but little blight on northern and eastern slopes where this whitewash had been applied, and considerable on the western slope, where it had not been used. lie came home and tried it on his own trees. At first he thought it did some good, for the- blight stopped, but it may have been owing to other causes. Mr. Plumb said that the subject of blight and mildew had been fully discussed by the leading horticulturists, at the Nursery- men's Convention, held this season in Chicago, and while there was still some diversity of opinion in regard to the causes, the belief that they were atmospheric was gradually gaining ground. This was the opinion of Mr. Bush, of Missouri, who had made them a careful study. To avoid blight and mildew, plant both trees and vines where they can have free circulation of air, and where the soil, in its composition and texture, is adapted to the de- velopment of vigorous and healthy foliage. In proof of this he cited Mr. Ott's experience in his vineyards in Madison, on the terraced bank along the lake shore, and on the top of the bluff across the lake. The first was a total failure, while in the other, that part was most fruitful, and the most healthy and vigorous which was upon the crown of the ridge. There had been some complaint of Meeting for Discussion Held at the State Fair. 73 the fruit cracking this season ; the cause was deficiency in the foliage ; where the fruit is affected, the cause of the trouble is generally found in the leaves. "Whatever promotes their vitality promotes the health and fruitfulness of the tree or vine. In Europe, where the grape has suffered so severely from pbyloxera, of all the remedies tried, the one which promises the best is improv- ing the strength of growth, the constitution of their own vines by grafting them on our hardy Concords. Miner Plums. — Mr. Kellogg said he had often spoken dis- paringly of the Miner plum, and now he wanted to speak a good word for it, for it does occasionally bear a crop. He had seen trees near Beloit this season that were loaded down to breaking with fruit, and they stood in poor soil at that. Mr. Pilgrim stated that Mr. Stickney's trees bore fruit the past season for the first time since they were set out, twelve or fifteen years ago. President Smith had had the same experience. A number of young trees standing in the yard near his house had borne good crops. He had found it necessary to prop up some of the limbs, they were so heavily loaded. Mr. Peffer had about thirty Miner trees ; some of them were set out six years ago. The trees blossomed full but the fruit did not set. The De Soto, with him, was a good plum. It bears while young, and well. The wet weather had injured his plums this season, causing them to grow so rapidly that they burst open and soon rotted. Judge J. G. Knapp, one of the early members of the society being present, was called on for remarks, and gave a very inter- esting account of the tropical fruits and climate in Florida, his present home. He said he often recalled with pleasure the asso- ciations of the past, the da} r s when we had labored together to make horticulture a success in the rigorous climate of Wisconsin. In alluding to the efforts made in days gone by to make fruit cul- ture profitable by a study of nature's laws, he said he had long been a close observer of nature, and had ever found her true to herself. Results may appear strange and even contradictory, but they are not produced by chance; they do not come without a rea- son, and he who studies nature aright will find she is ever in har- 74 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. mcny with herself; that the variations are the legitimate effects of natural forces, modified by local causes; the agents and condi- tions being the same, like results will follow, and there will be a similarity in the fruitage and development of tree and vegetable life. As proof of this, note the development of vegetation along isothermal lines. Horticulture in Wisconsin has many difficulties to contend with and always will have, but if we study nature care- fully and read her aright, we will be able to meet and overcome many of the obstacles or at least modify their effects. He gave an instance where salt had been used with good results in freeing a Black Hamburg vine from the phyloxera. He thought it was also good for the blight, but sulphur was un- doubtedly better ; it not only prevents the development of fungus growth, but when applied in moderate quantities, it gives greater vigor and strength to the trees and vines. It enters more or less into the composition of many kinds of fruits. The grape and the orange, and some other fruits flourish best in soil of volcanic character. They had found it beneficial to use sulphur and ashes on their orange trees in Florida. They were troubled some with a fruit blight there, and had found the best remedy was to cut off the limb two feet or more below the part affected. He had no doubt but that whitewashing the apple trees, as stated, was bene- ficial, but thought the benefit came more from the sulphur than from anything else. Motion was made that the president be authorized to appoint delegates to attend the meetings of other state societies, the same as heretofore, which was carried, and the president stated that he would be pleased to give credentials to any of the members who wished to attend such meeting's, and he hoped that those who might be present at any of them, would represent the society, even though they might not have a formal certificate. Exhibition of Fruit at Winter Meeting. — The fine dis- play of fruit at the State Fair was commented upon with pleasure, and it was conceded to be the best exhibition ever made in the state. A general desire was expressed to have a competitive ex- hibition of fruit at our winter meeting. In accordance with this, a resolution w r as passed appropriating $100, from the funds of Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 75 the Society, to be offered in premiums on fruit at that meeting. The president was authorized to prepare the premium list, and Mr. Plumb and the secretary were commissioned to make the necessary preparation for the exhibition. Society adjourned. TRANSACTIONS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. Agricultural Rooms, January 31-February 4, 1880. The society convened in the Agricultural Rooms at 7 : 30 P. M., President Smith in the chair. A motion made by Mr. Plumb that the president be authorized to appoint the usual committees was carried, and in accordance therewith the following appointments were made: Committee on Programme — A. G. Tuttle, A. J. Philips, D. T. Pilgrim. Committee on Resolutions — J. C. Plumb, J. S. Stickney. Committee on Finance — J. S. Stickney, J. W. Wood, A. A. Arnold. Committee on Fruit on Exhibition — Geo. J. Kellogg, G. P. Peffer, B. B. Olds. . Mr. Plumb moved that a committee of three be selected by those having fruit on exhibition to award the premiums offered by the society, which was carried. The secretary stated that the amount of fruit on exhibition made it impossible to find the space needed for a proper display in the room where the joint convention was to be held, as had been intended, and if arranged there, it would have to be removed before Wednesday morning. As this would not be agreeable, either to the exhibitors or the public, other arrangements had to be made. The Governor had given permission to place it on tables in the hall, or to permit a room in the basement of the oapitol to be used for this purpose. It was not a very satisfactory arrangement to have the exhibition placed so much to one side and so far from the place where the meeting was to be held, but it seemed to be the best that could be done, and therefore, as the exhibitors were anxious to get their fruit arranged, the secretary, 76 Wisconsin State Hobticultueal Society. in the absence of the president and the other members appointed to act with him, took the responsibility of locating it in the base- ment. He trusted this would meet the approval of the society. This arrangement would make it necessary to secure a room attendant to see to the fruit. By resolution the action of the secretary was approved, and he was instructed to employ an attendant to take charge of the ex- hibition room. Summer Meetings. — President Smith gave an account of the June meetings held in connection with the Sauk county and Brown county horticultural societies, and said he was more than ever convinced that the great mission of the state society was in this work, and that there was no way in which it could better reach the public, and do more to create an interest in horti- cultural subjects than by these meetings. He said that, at the request of the Northwestern Horticultural Society, located at La Crosse, he attended a meeting held there in December last. This society had thought of inviting the state society to hold a joint convention with them in June last, but were not able to perfect the arrangements to do so. At their winter meeting they had de- cided to try and secure a convention and exhibition the coming spring, and had sent the society an invitation to meet with them. The Grand Chute Horticultural Society had also sent a like invi- tation ; both of which he would present to the society, hoping that they would be accepted. Other invitations may be handed in, and if so, he was in favor of accepting as many of them as we could. The communications were presented and read, as follows : La Crosse, Wis., December 8, 1880. President Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, Dear Sir:— At a regular meeting of our horticultural society, held in La Crosse, Wis., December 7 and 8, 18S0, the State Society were invited to hold their summer session in connection with this society, sometime during the month of June, 1881. Hoping your society will accept this invitation, I remain, Yours truly, L. W. Brigham, Secretary. Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 11 Appleton, Wis., January 28, 1881. President Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, Dear Sir: — At a meeting of the Grand Chute Horticultural Society held last evening, I was authorized, as secretary, to invite the State Horticultural Society to hold a summer meeting in Appleton in June next. Hoping this will receive courteous recognition, I am Yery respectfully yours, Mrs. D. Huntley, Secretary. Consideration was postponed until there was a larger attend- ance, and that other applications might be made. Instructions to Judges. — Mr. Plumb called attention to the fact that our own was about the only State Horticultural Society that had not adopted a set of rules governing its exhibitions and also a scale of points and instructions to be considered by the judges in passing on the merits of articles on exhibition. He thought we ought to take some action on this subject. It was stated that as the society had no longer any connection with the state fair, there was now no special necessity for these rules and scale of points. In reply to this, the secretary remarked, that on account of the society's relation to the local societies and the horticultural inter- ests of the state, it was advisable that such rules and instructions should be adopted, even if not needed in its own exhibitions. They would be used by the county and local societies and would enable the judges to do their work more easily and help to make their awards more in accordance with real merit. Now many are called upon to act as judges who are little acquainted with the ar- ticles to be passed upon, and do not know the points to be consid- ered in judging, and being governed by their taste or fancy often get wide of the mark. It is not necessary or best to have such elaborate rules and instructions as have been adopted by some eastern societies, but it would be well to give the main points that are to be considered, and to give them in the order of their im- portance, and leave the judges free to arrive at their decision on these points in any way they please. Aside from this, it was to be hoped that the results of the present exhibition would be such as to make them a part of our regular winter meeting, and in such case, we should need the rules ourselves. !£Mr. Plumb stated that no committee on premium list had been 78 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. appointed, but if we are to make these exhibitions a part of our winter meeting it will be necessary to have such a committee. The subject was discussed at some length and in conclusion the following resolution was passed : Resolved, That the committee on Fruit on Exhibition be instructed to pre- pare a premium list for our winter exhibitions, and also to report a set of rules or instructions to judges. FpeciFying the points to be considered in de- termining the merits of fruits on exhibition, and to give the order in which these points are to rank. Delegates to other Societies. — An invitation from the Illinois State Horticultural Society was presented by the secretary, to join with them in holding a meeting next fall, in Chicago, for discussions and addresses. Mr. Kellogg stated that we usually had representatives from the Northern Illinois Society at our annual meetings, and that our society was generally represented at theirs, but no one from this state was present at their last meeting, and he moved that a dele- gate be appointed to attend in future. Mr. Plumb moved to amend this, so as to authorize the presi- dent to give a certificate as delegate to any member who would attend them. Mr. Kellogg moved to still further amend, so as to include the appointment of any member who may be willing to attend, as delegate to all the other state societies. The several amendments were accepted and the motion was carried. The secretary said he had received repeated requests from other societies to exchange reports, for the benefit of their officers and leading members, and in some instances offers to purchase had been made, in case an exchange could not be effected. The sup- ply of reports was quite limited, hardly sufficient to meet the home demand, and he did not like to exchange to the extent pro- posed without instructions from the society. Mr. Stickney said that he had seen some of the reports of the societies wishing to exchange, and he found them very interest- ing and useful ; tbey were good things to have, and he moved that the secretary be authorized to exchange with such societies at his discretion. Carried. Society adjourned to meet at 9 A. M M February 1. Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 79 February 1, 9 o'clock A. M. The society assembled in the Agricultural Rooms at 9 a. m., as per adjournment. A committee of those having fruit on exhibition, to whom was assigned the selection of the judges to make the award of the pre- miums offered by the society, reported that they had agreed upon Messrs. J. S. Stickney, S. Hunt and A. Gr. Tuttle as such com- mittee. The committee on the Order of Business made their report, de- voting the forenoon to the revision of the fruit lists. At 2 p. m., the secretary's report; at 2:30 p. m., the treasurer's report; at 3:00 p. m., election of officers for the ensuing year; at 4:00 p. m., reports of committees, county and loc\l societies and committee of Ob- servation ; which report was accepted and adopted, and the society proceeded at onca to the revision of the fruit lists. Mr. Tuttle was in favor of recommending two lists for apples; one for home use and another for market purposes. But very little attention has been given hitherto to raising apples for com- mercial purposes, but much more would be given to it in the fu- ture. Of the varieties recommended in the list of the society, some were much better adapted for this purpose than others, and some not on the list would, under certain conditions, be equally as profit- able as those recommended. Hi thought the society should give those who were disposed to raise fruit for market purposes all the aid in their power. Mr. Plumb introduced the following resolution, which was car- ried without dissent: 'Resolved, That we expect committees, acting as judges in the award of p r e- miums offered by the society in exhibitions of fruits with which this society is connected, to be governed in their decisions by the rules laid down, and by our judgment in regard to adaptation. Apple List. — Mr. Phillips was far from satisfied with the condition prefixed to our first list, "Hardiness the only test." It did not seem to him that this was the only point to be considered, or that was taken into consideration, and it is calculated to mis- lead. What we want to recommend is, the varieties best adapted 80 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. to Wisconsin. Hardiness is an important point and perhaps the first thing to be considered, but there are other things that come into the question, as quality, productiveness, etc. As the list stands now, it does not fairly represent our recommendation. If a member of the society was called to state which of the six vari- eties named was the best adapted for cultivation, judged by the test specified, he would be compelled to select the poorest variety there, the Tetofsky, which he regarded as almost worthless, cer- tainly not worthy of the recommendation given it. To be sure it is hardy, but of little value for home use or commercial purposes. He thought it was not to the credit of the society, or justice to the tree growing public to keep it on the first list any longer. Mr. Stickney said that "Hardiness the onlv test." was not sat- isfactory, as it expressed only one of the qualifications that were taken into consideration, and he moved that it be. changed to "Best adapted to Wisconsin." Mr. Tuttle remarked that he would favor cutting down our list if it were necessary, to make it represent only what we can safely recommend. Our Minnesota neighbors had only recommended two varieties, the Wealthy and the Duchess. We have been com- pelled to change our list heretofore, and may have to do so still more to make it what it should be. Mr. Plumb stated that other points had been considered in the adoption of the list, but that hardiness was of special importance, as without it quality, productiveness, etc., would be of little avail. Highest quality of fruit is not usually found combined with hardi- ness, and the tendency of productiveness, especially where great, is to lessen the vitality, but all the varieties on our extra hardy list should possess all these qualifications in the greatest possible degree. He would not make hardiness the only test, but he was in favor of mentioning it as one of, if not the leading point to be considered. After some further debate Mr. Stickney's motion to amend so as to read "six varieties best adapted to Wisconsin" was further amended by adding, "hardiness, productiveness and quality taken into consideration," and the motion thus amended was adopted. Mr. Stickney agreed with Mr. Philips that the Tetofsky was Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 81 not such an apple as the society ought to recommend ; it don't pay for its cultivation, and he would move to strike it from the list, which was ordered to be done. It was proposed by Mr. Stickney that the Alexander be added to the list. It was a very hardy and showy apple, much sought after in the market and reasonably productive. Mr. Plumb was opposed to putting it on the extra hardy list ; while it does well in the northern portion of the state, it is very much subject to blight in the southern part, and this should be taken into consideration. Mr. Kellogg wa3 not in favor of putting it on the list. His own experience with it had not been satisfactory; from two trees, twenty-five years old, he had gathered only one fair crop of apples. Mr. Philips did not believe that it was necessary to add another variety to the list to keep the old number good. He regarded the Alexander as objectionable on account of the blight, and should prefer to cut the number of varieties down to five than to include it. He thought the Pewaukee was a much better variety, and more worthy of a place on the list. Mr. Stickney could recommend the Pewaukee as an excellent bearer and a good winter apple; the tree is as hardy as the Haas, the Fameuse or Plumb's Cider: the quality of the fruit is not, perhaps, the best, but it is very good and it keeps remarkably well. Mr. Tuttle regarded the Pewaukee as one of our best varieties ; it is giving better satisfaction each year, and he believed it would prove equally as valuable to this state as the Wealthy in Minne- sota. It was, perhaps, not as hardy in the nursery as some other varieties, but it stood well, and in the orchard it was equal in hard- iness to the Duchess and was very productive; in quality it was better than the Haas. It was much in demand in the Baraboo market and elsewhere, both as an eating and cooking apple. In addition to this, it is along keeper. It had done so well with him that if he was to set out an orchard for commercial purposes, he should make it and the Wealthy the two main varieties. He has trees growing in unfavorable locations and in soil where other va- rieties, even the Fameuse had failed G — Hokt. 82 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Mr. Olds could indorse all Mr. Tuttle said in favor of the Pewaukee. Mr. Herschinger stated that he had tested its hardiness very thoroughly, in fact, had subjected it to treatment that would have killed most, if not all, of our hardy varieties. He top grafted it into the Duchess, and by cutting off all the limbs had forced an excessive growth of wood, but the grafts stood well and are doing well yet. Mr. Plumb said there was no question as to its quality and pro- ductiveness, but it was not equally hardy in all locations and soils. Mr. Stickney moved that it be added to the list in place of the Tetofsky ; which was carried. Mr. Philips, to judge by profitableness in his own orchard, said he should put Ben Davis ahead of both Haas and Plumb's Cider. Mr. Kellogg moved to substitute Walbridge for Haas. This was opposed by Mr. Stickney on account of its size. The trees bore well, but the apples were too small to market to good advantage. He had twenty-six trees of this variety which he should re-graft on this account. Mr. Plumb thought highly of the Walbridge on account of its productiveness and its keeping qualities ; it might not be equal in quality to some others, but it would last until May and be good when the others were all gone. The list for general cultivation was taken up, and Mr. Kellogg moved to strike out all the varieties in the first list and' to change the title to "Additional varieties for general cultivation in favora- ble locations." This motion was carried, and the lists as revised were approved and authorized published as follows : Six Varieties beat adapted to Wisconsin, Hardiness, Productiveness and Quality taken into consideration. — Duches3 of Oldenburg, Wealthy, Pewaukee, Haas, Fameuse and Plumb's Cider. Additional list for cultivation in favorable locations. — Tetofsky, Eed Astrachan, St. Lawrence, Fall Orange, Price's Sweet, Alex- ander, Utter, Westfield Seek no Further, Willow Twig, Grolden Pusset and Walbridge. Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 83 Grape List. — The general list was left unchanged, and is as follows : General List. — Concord, Delaware, Worden, Agawam, Wilder, Janesville, Lindley. Moore's Early was added to the list for trial, and list adopted, as follows: For Trial. — Israella, Massasoit, Brighton, Champion, Moore's Early. Strawberries. — The strawberry list was taken up. Mr. Stickney said he would like to have some addition to our list for general cultivation. He thought it was time that we had some- thing beside the Wilson. Among the many varieties in cultiva- tion, there were some that were equal to Wilson in hardiness, and in other respects, and were superior to it in quality, and also sufficiently productive to make them profitable. Judging by results in his own experience, he would like to see Boyden's No. 30, Green's Prolific and the Crescent added to the list. All three were as hardy, if not hardier than the Wilson ; the fruit was of good quality, and the yield was very satisfactory. He would move to add them to the list for general cultivation. Carried. President Smith was well pleased with Downer's Prolific. He had raised it for a number of years, and had found it a very fair bearer, and a good berry for family use. Mr. Kellogg thought the Prouty should be stricken from the list. It was a great bearer, and the fruit was fine and attractive on account of its form, but the stems were very short, and the berries lay in the dirt, and often rotted before they were ripe. No further change was made and the lists as amended stand as follows : Tor General Cultivation — Wilson, Boyden's No. 30, Green's Pro- lific and Crescent. For Trial — Charles Downing, Kentucky, Prouty 's Seedling, Col. Cheney, Sharpless, Capt. Jack. Raspberries. — The raspberry list was next in order and in the preliminary discussion, Mr. Adams called for the experience of 84 Wisconsin State Horticultubal Society. the members in regard to the hardiness of the Philadelphia. It had killed with him and with others in the vicinity of Madison. Mr. Stickney said that in the fifteen years he had cultivated it, it had killed down three times, and had also been occasionally injured. It was apt to kill back, especially where a late growth was made the previous fall. He thought that we could calculate on three full crops out of every five, with a partial crop the fourth season. Mr. Plumb called on Mr. Stone to give his experience with this and other varieties, to which Mr. t Stone replied, that he had grown the Philadelphia side by side with the Turner and the Brandy- wine for nearly eight years, and did not regard it as hardy, or of as good quality as either of these varieties. In years when all were injured, the Philadelphia was killed back the farthest and was sometimes injured when the others escaped. He had also raised the Miami and Doolittle for eight years, and he had invari- ably found that the Miami killed back in hard winters more than the Doolittle. He was well pleased with the Gregg ; the fruit was large and the quality excellent, Mr. Plumb moved to amend the list by striking out " Folstaft" and Brinkle's Orange, if protected in winter," and by adding the " Gregg for trial," which was carried. Motion was made by Mr. Kellogg to add the Cuthbert ; also Carried. The lists as amended stand : For General Cultivation — Miami, Doolittle, Philadelphia, Turner, Brandywine. For Trial — Gregg, Cuthbert, Mr. Plumb thought that we ought to recommend a list of black- berries, at least for trial. They were increasing in importance every year, and were destined, he believed, soon to be one of the leading varieties of the small fruits raised for the market. There were large quantities of them now sent to market, but there is rarely, if ever, an over supply, and good prices are realized. A very great quantity can be sold fresh, and in the dry state there is a good demand for them. As they are very productive when the}' - do bear, if we can prevent the bushes from winter killing, it will be. profitable to raise the fruit even at low prices. T BANS ACTIONS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. 85 Mr. Stickney said he thought we could safely recommend the Snyder and Stone's Hardy for trial. He had visited Mr. Stone's grounds the past season and saw the two varieties side by side ; both were loaded with fruit, but the Hardy seemed to be the fullest. The canes of one, two and three year old plants were black with fruit. It was a great treat to see them, and paid him well for his journey. The wood of the Hardy wa3 short jointed, and quite stocky. He had great confidence in the Snyder, but more in the Hardy. The quality of the fruit was also the best in the Hardy. He had raised the Aucient Briton. It is apt to kill, but he could not do without it. He thought it paid to cultivate it even though it was killed occasionally. When it does escape it is fairly loaded with fruit. The quality is good, but the berries are too soft for anything but a near market. Mr. Stone's experience with blackberries was called for, and he said that with reference to the Snyder and Stone's Hardy he could recommend them for trial. He had cultivated both for six years. In that time the Snyder had killed down twice, but he regarded it fully as hardy as the black raspberries that are in general cul- tivation throughout the state. Stone's Hardy originated near Eockford, Illinois. In 1874 he obtained a few roots from a friend there who had cultivated it for four vears in his garden with ex- cellent success. The same spring he bought plants of the genuine Snyder, and set them side by side, and had given them the same cultivation ever since ; had not given winter protection to either. Had set out plants of each every season since 1874, and after growing them side by side for six years he could give a better description of both by comparing them with each other. The Snyder is conceded to be the hardiest variety under general culti- vation at present; but it had killed, as stated before, down to the ground twice in the six years; the Hardy had only been injured at the tip ends of the branches, not farther down than you would naturally cut back the cane in the spring. The crop of the Snyder for those two years was a failure, but that of the Hardy was good. It was the universal opinion of those who visited his grounds and saw the two varieties side by side in their prime, that the Hardy was the most productive, bore the largest berry, and was 86 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. better in quality. It is an upright, vigorous grower, the wood ripens early, is of a dark red color and is very hardy. The first year it does not, perhaps, bare as freely as some other varieties, but after that it produces equal to any variety he had ever tested. The berry averages larger than the Snyder, is black in color when ripe, and of a delicious flavor. It commences to ripen from three to five days later than the Snyder, and continues in bearing ten days longer. Mr. Adams, of Madison, had raised the Snyder for a number of years, and was well pleased with it. It was hardy with him, and as faras he knew, in the country about ; he thought it did the best and was the hardiest on high ground where the soil was well un- derdrained. He has in cultivation a running variety of the black- berry, which bore the largest berries he ever saw ; the yield was reasonable for the ground. The berries ripened the latter part of June. The form of growth will admit of winter protection by mulching, and if the variety proved a valuable one on further trial, it might be raised profitably. Mr. Stone had a few vines of the same kind, he presumed, called the Bartell's Dewberry. They were set out a number of years since, and but little attention had been given to them, being left to take care of themselves. On looking at them one season he was surprised to find the vines covered with fine, large berries. Since then he had taken care of them and he had picked good crops of fruit. They ripen early and bear full. A motion was made to recommend the Snyder, Stone's Hardy and Bartell's Dewberry for trial. Mr. Stickney wanted to inquire what was meant by " for trial;" was it for members of the society, or for the public ? He was strongly opposed to advising the public to buy the Dewberry. He moved to amend the motion by striking the Dewberry out. This was assented to, and the motion as amended was carried. Pears. — It was moved that Clapp's Favorite be added to the list for general cultivation. In many places it had borne better and proved hardier than the Flemish Beauty even. Mr. Peffer said it came from a cross of the Flemish Beauty and the Bartlett. The Bartlett is tender, and the Clapp's Favorite can- Transactions at the Annual Meeting. I not be hardier than the Flemish Beauty. If in any instance it seems to have proved so, it must be due to some local cause affect- ing the Flemish Beauty unfavorably, as weakness from overbear, ing, late growth produced by cultivation or other causes. The motion was lost. Mr. Jeffrey moved to add Beurre d' Anjou to the list for trial. Mr. Plumb recommended Doyenne d'Ete for the same list. Both motions were adopted, and the list as amended was adopted, as follows : For General Cultivation — Flemish Beauty. For Trial — Ananas d' Ete, Early Bergamot, Bartlett, Swan's Orange, Seckel, Winter Nellis, Clapp's Favorite, Beurre d' Anjou, Doyenne d' Ete. Plums. — It was remarked that the Miner had in quite a num- ber of instances borne heavy crops the past season, and that our action in crossing it off our list might have been hasty. Among others, President Smith said that the trees of this variety with him had been loaded with plums this year. Mr. Stickney said the cases where it had regularly borne good crops were very rare ; his own trees had borne the past season. In striking it out we had judged it by its own record, and he thought we had better let it alone, to work out its own reputa- tion. It was voted to recommend the old list without change, viz. : For Trial — Lombard, Imperial Gage, Magnum Bonum, Yel- low Egg, Eldredge, Duane's Purple, De Soto. Cherries. — The old list of cherries "for trial" was changed so as to read : For General Cultivation — Early Richmond, Late Richmond or Kentish, English Morello. Evergreens. — No changes were made in the lists of ever- greens. For General Cultivation — Norway Spruce, White Pine, Arbor Vita3, Scotch Pine, Balsam, White Spruce. For Ornamental Planting — Austrian Pine, Norway Pine, <6% 88 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Hemlock, Siberian Arbor Yitse, Eed Cedar, Dwarf Pine (Pinus Montana). For Timber — European Larch, White Pine. For Live Fence Posts — Norway Spruce. Mr. Stickney thought that it was important to recommend a list of deciduous trees for prairies and treeless plains. Some attention is now given to timber culture of this kind, especially in states west of us, and in the not distant future, there will be a demand for trees for this purpose in our own state, and it was desirable that those who are to engage in it should have all the aid possible in the selection of the varieties most likely to be suc- cessful. By vote of the society, Mr. Stickney was instructed to prepare such a list and present it for action during the present session of the society. (The following lists were made out as such report, and were presented in the joint convention, in connection with Mr. Stick- ney's paper on "Timber Culture," and are inserted here as if reported to the society, though no official action was taken on them) : For timber of rapid growth and easy culture. (Valuable in order named.) Black walnut. "White ash. Black cherry. Butternut. European larch. In commencing to plant on a prairie farm, reverse the order of this list. Soft maple. White elm. Box elder. Cotton wood. White willow. For timber of -fifty to one hundred years' growth. White oak. Red oak. Burr oak. Hickory. For street trees. (Valuable in order named.) White elm. Hard maple. Basswood (linden.) White ash. Green ash. Box elder. Soft maple. For lawn planting. (Valuable in order named.) European larch. European alder. Weeping poplar. _ Weeping mountain ash. Weeping golden bark ash. Kilmarnock weeping willow. Cut-leaf weeping birch. Norway maple. Linden. Green ash. Horse chestnut. American mountain ash European mountain ash Society adjourned to 2 P. M. TRANSACTIONS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. 89 February 1 — 2 P. M. Summer Meetings. — At the opening of the afternoon session, Mr. Stickney moved that the invitations extended to the State Society by the Grand Chute and Northwestern Horticultural societies, to hold June meetings in connection with them, be accepted. This motion prevailed, conditioned, however, upon the passage of the bill before the Legislature granting the Society an appropriation as heretofore. In case this aid was given, the President was authorized to pay fifty dollars to each of those societies, provided they would raise a like sum, to be offered in premiums for fruits and flowers at an exhibition to be held in connection with the meetings. The duty of making the neces- sary arrangements for the attendance and presentation of papers by members, on the part of the State Society, was also assigned to the President and Secretary. The President stated that the local societies were anxious to have our Society well represented at their meetings, and would be disappointed if there were but few present. He knew that it was a very busy season of the year with them, and it seemed almost impossible for many of them to leave home, but he hoped they would make special efforts to attend. Delegates. — President Smith said that it had been thought best to appoint special delegates to represent the Society at the annual meeting of the Illinois State Horticultural Society, to be held in Chicago, in December next. That Society were making preparations to have a large gathering of the leading horticultur- ists on that occasion, and it would doubtless be a very interesting meeting. He would appoint as special delegates, Messrs. J. C. Plumb and A. J. Philips, and would also give certificates to all members who could attend. As the hour assigned for the report of the Secretary had arrived, it was now read : secretary's report. Gentlemen of the State Horticultural Society : — The routrne of our work has been much the same the past as in former years, but there is good reason to believe that the results attained and the influence exerted have been as great as, if not much greater than in 90 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. any former year of its history. The interest felt by the public in the society's work is increasing. The sympathy and co-opera- tion between the local and state societies is much more evident, and by uniting our labors with theirs we have been able to reach a much larger number ; we trust to their benefit, surely to our own encouragement. The change in regard to taking part as a society in the exhibi- tion at the state fair, seemed, at the time, a little strange, but has not been attended with any very remarkable results. Many of our members contributed largely to the display of fruits and flowers, and received their proportion of the premiums as a re- ward for their labors, and those of us who were not exhibitors found greater enjoyment in the occasion on account of the exemp- tion from care and responsibility. Summer Meetings. — Two meetings were held in June, in accordance with the resolution passed at our last annual meeting ; one at Baraboo, the other at Green Bay. Unfortunately the one at Baraboo was held at the same time the American Nurserymen's Association was in session at Chicago. This prevented the attend- ance of some of the members of the society who would otherwise have been present. Quite a large number of the members were at the Green Bay meeting, larger, even, than a year ago. The local attendance was good, and the proceedings were of more than usual interest. It was proposed at our annual meeting to hold six of these joint conventions, if local societies would respond, but the season's experience tends to prove that the labor attendant upon such meetings, at this busy season of the year with nursery- men, fruit growers and those interested in horticulture, makes it difficult for the local societies to give the necessary time and labor to getting up and conducting the exhibition, and providing for the literary part of the entertainment, unless largely aided by the members of »he State Society, but most of our members are so situated that it is difficult to leave their business to attend even one meeting, and two or more are entirely out of the question. If this plan is to be carried out, it seems to be necessary that the president or a special committee should arrange with or assign it as the duty of certain members to attend each meeting to be held, Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 91 and to be prepared to take active part in carrying on the literary part of the labor ; paying their expenses and compensating them for their time, if attendance cannot be secured otherwise. But is there not a good deal of force in the remark made by a lady sec- retary of one of the local societies, on hearing of the proposed plan to hold so many meetings, "that would be spreading out the State Society rather thin? " It would seem to be the wiser course to hold one or two live meetings, rather than to excite expecta- tions in five or six local societies, of large attendance and a regu- lar broadside of horticultural wisdom, and disappoint them all, or all but one. While there were two responses to the proposition for a summer exhibition, there were none at all to the one made in the fall for winter meetings. I wrote to all, either to the secretary or some member of the society, and to some of them a number of times, giving notice of the offer by the State Society ; from some there was no reply ; others said " it would be difficult to get up suffi- cient interest to make a successful exhibition ; there would be little to show, and if the weather was cold, it would be impossible to bring out plants and flowers." I think, that had the proposi- tion not been burdened with an exhibition, involving an expense of fifty dollars besides much labor, at a time of the year when the weather is liable to be unfavorable, and the material for getting up an exhibition very limited, a number of the societies would have been glad to have held meetings for discussion and reading of papers, and would have welcomed the State Society to meet with them. I think we will have to admit the wisdom of their decision, for looking at the financial side of the question the pros- pect for any returns for the fifty dollars invested is not very bril- liant, not much, if any, better than for so much put into " French pear stock " or "peach pie-plant," which we do not encourage. "We cannot expect these societies to be willing or to be in a con- dition to lose fifty dollars, because we are willing to put as much more with it, for the chances are at least very great that this would be the pecuniary result. It is very important that we should co-operate with the local societies, and do all we can to aid and encourage them in creating an interest in, and a love for hor- 92 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. ticulture, wherever we can throughout the state. This should be our special mission. One June meeting, two, perhaps (but I think one better than the two), can be made very important aid in this work, and at the same time be a cheerful, pleasant re-union of our members, but instead of trying to hold winter exhibitions, I would suggest, as much more likely to accomplish the object we have in view, the plan of announcing to local societies, and to the citizens of the towns in various parts of the state where special interest is taken in horticultural matters, and where it will be possible to get a good audience, that two or more members of the State Society will come and read papers, deliver addresses or join in discussions on such horticultural subjects as may be of special interest throughout that locality, at an afternoon or evening meet- ing, or both, as the interest manifested and other circumstances may warrant. In this way we would reach a much larger num- ber of people, at a much smaller expenditure of time, labor and money than on the exhibition plan. The fifty dollars proposed to be spent by the State Society at each one of these exhibitions, would cover all the expenses of four or five meetings of this kind, and give little, if any trouble or expense to the local socie- ties or citizens. Eules and Instructions for Judges. — As the society, in connection with these June meetings, has an interest in the exhi- bitions made there, and also has inaugurated the plan of having competitive exhibitions at its winter meetings, it seems to be im- portant that it should adopt a system of rules governing these exhibitions as far as under its control, and also to establish a scale of points, or at least specify the points to be taken into considera- tion by the judges in passing on the merits of the exhibits. Nearly every similar society has definite rules governing these things, and some go into minute details in describing the special points to be considered in each variety of fruits and flowers. Excessive Yield. — Each year seems to have its own peculi- arities, its special difficulties to dishearten those engaged in fruit culture, and the past season has not been an exception in this re- spect, though its experience has been, in most localities, in strik- ing contrast with that of other years ; a surfeit instead of scarcity; TRANSACTIONS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. 93 over-production in place of barrenness. This has been especially the case in regard to the apple crop. In very many places, even where the orchards are moderate in size and few in number, much fruit has gone to waste. Fameuse and other good fall and winter apples bare been freely offered for twenty and twenty-five cents a bushel, with but a moderate demand at that. Some complain that it has been impossible to give it away and that the greater portion of the season's crop has rotted on the ground. Though the production has been so great, the prices have been so very low as to reduce the returns even below those of years where the yield has been moderate and even meager. The remarks were often heard, " when you have fruit it is not worth anything." " There is no profit in an orchard any way ;" " there are ten chances to one that you get any fruit at all, and when you do, it won't bring enough to pay for picking." Yet it is to be hoped that we shall be blessed with such a misfortune frequently, for it is a kind of burden that is easy to bear and which can readily be turned to profit. But is it true that there has been an over production of fruit? Have we raised enough to any where near supply the home demand ? The amount raised has been large, very large, but not near as great as the amount consumed. The season has been a remarkable one for fruit throughout the whole country. Never have the markets of our large cities been so crowded with it the season through. The cash value of the green fruit sold in Chicago alone has been over $10,000,000, and that, too, not in- cluding the foreign, extreme southern or California fruit. It is re- garded as a liberal estimate to setoff one-quarter of this for local consumption, and that at least three-quarters was shipped to the country, and largely to Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. Our own state has been a heavy consumer of strawberries and blackberries from Illinois and Michigan, and also of apples from these states, and some from Ohio and New York. With all this mass of fresh fruit there has also been a large trade in dried fruit. The cash value of the sales in Chicago reaches $L, 301.000, and of this $820,000 is for dried apples alone. Why is it that when so much fruit is brought into the state from abroad, our own goes to waste for want of purchasers? There are various reasons. 94 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. One is we have too large an amount of earlv and fall fruit; the early market is mainly stocked from the south before it ripens with us, and ours finds but few purchasers and soon decays. An- other reason is, because the reputation of our home fruit, both early and late, has been greatly injured by the careless, slovenly man- ner in which it lias been handled, and the inferior condition in which it is usually sent to market. The common method is to let it hang on the tree until the hurry of fall work is over, then shake the trees, and put the apples into bags, or throw them loose into the wagon, and jolt along to town to market them ; or to pile them, when thus gathered, up in bins or barrels in the still warm and close cellars. Our falls are usually warm and dry, and if the ap- ples are allowed to hang until freezing weather comes, and makes it necessary to gather them, they become over-ripe and soon decay ; the season even of the later winter varieties is thus far advanced before gathered. If the same care were taken to pick early, sort out and pack with care and to keep the fruit cool until taken to market, as is done in Michigan, Ohio and New York, our fruit would keep as well and even better than theirs, as we would save the injury that must necessarily result from long shipments ; for there is nothing peculiar to our soil, climate or tree3 that should lead to early decay. The wonder is, that with the treatment it receives it keeps so well. In October last I saw the finest, largest and fairest Fameuse ever grown, brought to town like potatoes or turnips and sold for twenty-five cents a bushel, over-ripe, and so bruised that there was not an uninjured one in the pile, and it was necessary to use them up within two weeks in order to save them, whereas if they had been handled properly they could have been kept up to March and April, and this is but a specimen of what is done all over our state. Another thing which detracts from the market value of our home fruit, and in consequence from its demand, is the inferior condi- tion in which it is sent to market on account of not being prop- erly sorted and packed. It is no exaggeration to say that if this were done, and only half of the fruit sent to market now shipped, the returns would be as great if not greater than those now re- ceived. Its market value would be increased, its keeping quality Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 95 would be improved, and added to this, half the shipping expenses would be saved. This is where the Michigan, Ohio and New York fruit growers gain the advantage over us. By close sorting and careful handling they get better returns from their shipments, keep up the reputation of their fruit, and not only save expense on their inferior fruit by keeping it at home, but in many cases they utilize it and make more from it than we do on our best. As an illustration of this, notwithstanding the abundance of fruit the past season, it is said that the Alden fruit-drying factories in Michigan have paid on an average twenty and twenty-three cents per bushel for windfalls, culls and second class apples. These factories are located in nearly all the large towns in the fruit region, and work up large quantities of fruit at a profit to their owners and to the fruit growers. Can we not in this wav utilize much of the fruit which goes to waste or is sold at very low rates in years of abundance, and thus turn what we term over produc- tion, to good accouut? The fruit now raised may not be sufficient to warrant the building of large factories, but small ones can be put up at a moderate expense, and even portable home dryers might be used to advantage, working a large amount with a small outlay. Fruit Statistics. — It may be of interest and also valuable as a matter of record, to state here, briefly, some of the statistics gathered by the Chamber of Commerce, showing approximately the transactions in the leading varieties of fruit in the Chicago markets the past season : Value. Peaches, 2,000,000 packages $1 ,000 ,000 Apples, 1,000,000 barrels 2,250,000 Pears, 200,000 packages 150,000 Strawberries, 20,000,000 quarts 2, 000, 000 Raspberries, 3,500,000 quarts 467,500 Blackberries, 12,000,000 quarts 1 ,500,000 "Whortleberries, 3,200,000 quarts 320, 000 Grapes, 10,000,000 pounds 400,000 Cherries, 100,000 bushels 250 ,000 Cranbeiries, 60,000 barrels 420, 000 Apples, evaporated, 1,000,000 pounds 100, OOo Apples, dried, 12,000,000 pounds 720, 000 Fruit of other kinds, dried, 6,420,000 pounds 421 ,000 Canned fruits of various kinds 1 ,752, 500 Foreign fruit of various kinds 2,303,300 California fruit of various kinds 813,500 These with the minor kinds of fresh fruit which have been omitted, foot up a total value of $16,692,800. 96 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. The statistics obtained the past season from the returns of the town assessors to the secretary of state are very interesting. They show a greater area in orchards, a larger number of trees of bear- ing age, and an increased production. In considering this last point it should be borne in mind that the yield given is for the sea- son of 1879, the off year in our apple crop ; yet there is quite a gain over that of the previous year. Comparison with the statis- tics taken last year not only indicates progress, an increased yield, and area of fruit, but goes to confirm the reliability of what seemed then to some an exaggeration, and too good to be true. The sec- retary of state, in his report, says that " these statistics are much more satisfactory than they have ever been before, but are not yet complete," and he. recommends that measures be taken to make them fuller and more accurate, and also, to increase the number of the items to be reported on. It would be especially gratifying if a few of our most important small fruits could be added to the list. The number of bushels of apples reported as raised the season of 1879, is 718,687 ; the number reported the preceding year is 650,463, an increase of 68,221 bushels, even in the off year. The number of trees of bearing age is given as 2,1-40,629, against 1.901,424 in 1879. The number of acres in orchards is given as 67,192, while the previous year was 58,431. Returns of fruit were made by all the counties but four, Ashland, Bayfield, Price and Taylor. Trees of bearing age are reported in all the counties but Price, and that returns one acre in orchard. The following table gives the yield in all the counties reporting over 10,000 bushels, arranged in the order of their amount, and also gives their gain or loss and their respective standing in productiveness for the years 1879 and 1878. The statistics in full will be giveu at the close of this volume. The greatest gains will be seen to have been in Waukesha, Kenosha, Dane, Iowa, Milwaukee and Sauk counties. The great- est losses in Winnebago, Green Lake and Fond du Lac. I had hoped to have obtained a large number of statistics in regard to the horticultural products of the state from the United States census returns, but it has been impossible to get them from TllANS ACTIONS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. 97 Washington, of the census commissioner, and the duplicate copies of the returns, instead of being deposited with the secretary of state, as heretofore, have been left with the county or district clerks and are hence inaccessible. COMPARATIVE YIELD OF APPLES — CROP 1879 AND 1878. Counties. Bushels — 1879. Walworth. Rock Waukesha Grant Dane Jefferson . . Kenosha . . Dodge Racine Milwaukee. . . Fond du Lac. Green Iowa Washington . Columbia. . . . Sheboygan. . . Sauk La Fayette. . . Green Lake. . Winnebago . . Crawford 61,342 57,383 56,919 44,108 42,416 38, 404 35,623 27, 295 26,284 25,810 25,447 25,400 25,053 23,460 20,919 19,876 19,866 15,600 12,179 11,125 10,100 Bushels — Gain or loss. gain gain gain gain loss gain loss gain gain loss gain gain loss gain loss gain gain loss loss gain 2,000 8,000 22, 000 6,000 13,000 3,000 15,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 5,000 11,000 5,000 6,000 4,000 10,000 1,000 17,000 22,000 1,000 Stand ing- 1879. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Standing- 1878. 1 2 6 4 9 3 13 8 15 16 5 14 19 11 18 12 23 17 10 7 22 Insect Depredations have been fully as extensive, and with one exception as injurious as in past years. The codling moth has not attracted as much notice as usual because there were ap- ples enough for all and to spare. The curculio has been faithful to his mission and harvested the crop of plums throughout the state. The tent caterpillar and canker worm have maintained their foothold in most of their old colonies, and have extended into new fields. In some localities the Cecropia moth, one of the finest of the moth family and usually regarded as ornamental and harmless, has been so numerous as to completely strip large trees of their foliage, causing much loss. The cabbage worm, the exception noted above, has been much less destructive in many places than last year, but still has done a vast amount of damage. The partial exemption from the total loss of the crop is attrib- 7 — Hort. 98 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. uted by some, to remedies used and also to early and thorough culture, and to compactness of the head of the varieties of cabbage raised, but is doubtless mainly due to the rapid development of the natural enemies of the worm. The phyloxera are reported as very prevalent in different parts of the state, and as rapidly increasing in numbers and in destructiveness. Those who were early settlers here cannot but be impressed with the increase in number, variety, extent and destructiveness of our insect foes. The flea beetle, cabbage worm, leaf roller, the curculio, cater- pillers, canker worm and codling moth were then very rarely seen and almost unknown. Now they are everywhere, and seem to be increasing rapidly from year to year, and it has come to be a seri- ous question how to stay their ravages. The evil has become so great, so wide spread, that it seems to be beyond the reach, the ability of the individual citizen to control. Unless there is gen- eral, united action it is useless to try to cheek the evil, and to compel such unity of action legislation alone will serve. It must come to this sooner or later or the evil will become so great as to seriously burden all the productive interests of the country. The Academy of Arts and Sciences, at their annual meeting in De- cember last, decided to make an effort to secure from the legisla- ture the appointment of a state entomologist, with the means nec- essary to make the department efficient and thorough in its work, and they ask our aid, which surely will be given. As stated at our meeting held during fair week, Governor Smith has authorized the state carpenter to make a case for an entomological collection, at the expense of the state. The plan presented was on a much more extensive scale, and involved more labor and material than he at first anticipated, but he con- sented to its being made, stipulating that it should be done at times when the regular state work was not pressing. The form selected is that of a double bureau, with three rows of drawers on each side, eleven drawers in each row, ten of them shallow, and covered with glass, and one, the bottom one, of the usual depth and form. Blight has been quite prevalent in mauy places the past season. A number of peculiar forms of it have been noticed, which, when Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 99 the full data are ascertained, will be interesting at least, and may serve to throw light on the causes of this disease. I was in hope to have had some of the facts to present to you, but cannot, through failure of the parties to respond to inquiries made. Is is alleged that discoveries have been recently made, which, some claim, will forever settle the vexed question as to its origin, and thus remove a prolific cause of contention and dispute. Prof. Burrill, of Champaign, Illinois, announces that "the cause of this dreaded disease is a minute organism belonging to a group of the lowest fungi, best known as hacteria." It is perhaps presumptuous to doubt this solution of the vexed question, and wrong to say anything which will serve to prolong the warfare over this "bone of contention," but I would call attention to some points bearing on this subject, in order to have members note more closely the coming season all the conditions attendant upon the cases of blight that may come under their observation. There is no doubt but that minute forms of life are found in connection with blight, but the question is, are they the cause, or the result of it? If the cause, their power to produce the given effect should apply to and cover all manifestations of the different forms in which blight is seen. It should be an adequate cause. So far as it is possible to judge from the facts given, it not only fails to apply to all cases of blight, but does not even seem to be a sufficient cause in any case. Take, for instance, the fact that every experiment to inoculate the tree failed, where the virus containing the bacteria was applied to the young bark and the tender leaves, the places of all others where the opportunity of working themselves into the cellular structure of the tree is the most favorable, if it depended alone on the vital force of their own organism. Could they produce the necessary conditions for their development, they would seem to have a good chance for it here, and failure to do it would go to indicate that they were dependent for these conditions on causes outside of themselves. Neither does it seem to us a conclusive demonstration that they are the cause of blight because the disease can be communicated to other trees by inoculation. All are familiar with the pungent odor coming from blighted bark and wood, and the black and 100 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. poisonous fluid that oozes out of the diseased part, so deadly that, as it runs down the tree, it turns bark and Wood as black as a coal, completely destroying the cellular structure of every part it touches. This virus is found in the fluid containing the bacteria which is used to inoculate with. It cannot be separated from them, and though diluted in its form, it must retain more or less of its deadly power. It seems much more reasonable to suppose that the result produced comes from the poison thus brought into contact with the starch germs of the inoculated tree, developing the same acid fermentation as in the tree from which it was taken, and thus the bacteria have the conditions favoring their rapid development. To adjust the magnitude and rapidity of the results often seen to the cause, the Professor attributes it to the gradual weaken- ing of the vigor of the trees by the slow but long continued destruction of the starch germs by the bacteria. The disease is there, but the effect is not seen, until a trying climatic change occurs, when it is suddenly produced. Then it would seem that trees weakened from other causes would be the most subject to blight, instead of trees of the greatest constitutional vigor (as our crabs), and at a time too, when their growth is the most rapid and vigorous. On the other hand, if it is a disease of the circu- lation, induced mainly by climatic conditions, as some think, it would seem most natural and most reasonable that this class of trees would be most affected, and at this very time, for in no other trees and at no other time is there so great a disturbance or dis- arrangement of natural conditions. Blight is sometimes seen un- der other circumstances, but is much the most prevalent when the wood-growth is very rapid, where the heat and moisture are op- pressive. The cells are then crowded with sap, the excessive moisture in the atmosphere checks evaporation, the diluted sap remains stagnant in leaf and limb, and fermentation sets in, which soon destroys the starch getms in the cells — a condition of things which is seen in other forms of vegetable and animal life to attract and favor the development of parasites and minute forms of lower organic life. It may be objected that this is simply a theory, lacking proof, TBANS ACTIONS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. 101 demonstration ; well, granted, yet it is one that fits the facts ; ac- counts for the different forms of phenomena under consideration ; relieves from most of the puzzles and perplexities connected with this subject. A plausible theory may not be correct, but it is more likely to be near the mark than a faulty demonstration. Society Finances. — The appropriation granted to the society by the legislature for the two past years has been a great aid in carrying on its work. We trust that the manner in which the money has been expended will meet the approval of the members of the present legislature, and that they will be disposed to grant us further aid in the promotion of the horticultural interests of the state. A bill has been introduced for this purpose. It is to be hoped that the society, by the economical and judicious use of its means and faithfulness in the performance of its work, will ever retain the confidence of the public, and continue to receive the needed aid from the state. But public favor is fickle and un- certain, and it would seem to be wise to provide a fund to help where other means fail. A number of state societies have made provision for such fund by a system of life memberships, making a permanent investment of the fees and of the interest from them, where not needed for expenses. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society has a life membership of 588, with a fee of thirty dollars each. The Michigan Pomological Society has 150 members with ten dollar fees. It has been urged that this would diminish the number of annual members and hence cut off receipts from this source; but where tried, the annual membership has remained about the same, and. by a judicious investment, the life members' fees each year bring in an income equal to the same number of annual dues. At first the receipts from this source would be small, too small to be properly appreciated perhaps ; but once started, the amount would gradually increase and at last become a valuable aid in carrying out the mission of the society. Unfortu- nately most of the members of such organizations think they are not able to make investments of this kind, but it may be an in- ducement to some to make the necessary sacrifice, that in this way their annual dues will continue to come in, and their life's work be carried on years after their active labors have ended. 102 Wiscoxsix State Horuicultural Society. There are a number of other subjects I had intended to men- tion, but this report is]already too long, and lest I weary you to excess, will omit them, but feel impelled, in closing, to allude to a thought suggested by the subject last mentioned, that is, what an incentive it should be to earnest, faithful work, that we know not where or when the results of our labors will end. We are too apt to estimate what we accomplish by present results. Active toil will soon cease for us all, but our life's influence will net then be at an end. Its impress will be stamped on those about us, and by them will be given to those beyood. Like the ripple caused by the pebble thrown in the placid lake, its visible effect may seem to end, when the widening circles break on the shore at our feet, but on the other side they are ever extending and will only cease when they reach the other shore. Will they, then? TREASURERS REPORT. The following report of the treasurer was read by the secretary : Members of the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society: — Your treasurer has to report the following as the business transactions of the past year : RECEIPTS. February 2, 1880. Balance on hand $162 19 February 9, 1880. By cash for membership from the secretary 36 00 February 17, 1880. By membership of V. Lowe 2 00 June 21, 1880. By cash from state treasurer S00 00 July 2, 1880. By cash for membership from the secretary 3 00 September 8, 1880. By cash for membership from the secretary 2 00 February 1, 1881. By cash from state treasurer 300 00 February 3, 1881. By cash returned by the president 2 22 February 3, 1881. By cash for membership from the secretary 22 00 $849 41 DISBURSEMENTS. February 4, 1880, voucher, 118. Postage for the president $10 00 February 5, 1880, voucher, 119. Expenses of delegates 6 00 February 6, 1880, voucher, 120. Balance salary of secretary, 1879.. 25 00 March 12, 1880, voucher, 121. Express and postage o 00 April 2, 1880, voucher, 122. On salary secretary 25 00 June 24, 1880, voucher, 123. Premiums at Green Bay exhibition ... 50 00 June 24, 1880, voucher, 124. Expenses at Green Bay meeting 4170 June 24, 1880, voucher, 125. Premiums at Baraboo exhibition 50 00 June 24, 1880, voucher, 126. Expenses of president at Baraboo ... 8 30 July 2, 1880, voucher, 127. On secretary's salary 50 00 July 2, 1880, voucher, 128. Stationery and printing 3 00 September 10, 1880, voucher, 129. Postage 7 00 December 24, 1880, voucher, 130. Postage 5 00 February 3, 1881, voucher, 131. Printing 5 00 Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 103 February 3, 1881, voucher, 132. Express and stationery 3 85 February 3, 1881, voucher, 134. Secretary's salary 25 00 February 3, 1881, voucher, 135. Premiums and expenses at annual meeting 100 00 February 3, 1881, voucher, 136. Incidental expenses of president . . 25 00 February 3, 1881, voucher, 139. Attendant for fruit exhibition 8 00 February 3, 1881, voucher, 140. Expenses of president at La Crosse meeting 16 00 February 3, 1881, voucher, 141. George P. Peffer. Premium on Seedling apple 10 00 February 3, 1881, voucher, 142. Traveling expenses of speakers at annual meeting 8 00 February 4, 1881. Balance in treasury 342 56 $849 41 All of which is respectfully submitted. M. Anderson, Treasurer. The report was referred to the Finance Committee for the usual examination. Election of Officers. — As the hour appointed for the elec- tion of officers had arrived, the society proceeded to ballot for officers for the ensuing year, which resulted as follows: President — J. M. Smith, of Green Bay. Vice President — J. C. Plumb, of Milton. Recording Secretary — F. W. Case, of Madison. Corresponding Secretary — A. J. Philips, of West Salem. Treasurer — Hon. M. Anderson, of Pine Bluff. Superintendent — B. F. Adams, of Madison. The following persons were chosen as additional members of the Executive Commitee, as provided by the constitution of the .society : 1st Congressional District — Geo. J. Kellogg, of Janesville. 2d Congressional District — J. W. Wood, of Baraboo. 3d Congressional District- — S. J. Freeborn, of Ithaca. 4th Congressional District — J. S. Stickney, of Wauwatosa. 5th Congressional District — Geo. C. Hill, of Fond du Lac. 6th Congressional District — D. Huntley, of Appleton. 7th Congressional District — Hon. A. A. Arnold, of Galesville. 8th Congressional District — Augustus Cole, of Oconto. Mr. Stickney said that our work, in connection with the local societies, had greatly increased the amount of work to be done by our president. It had besn quite a tax on his time aad required 104: Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. quite an outlay to meet the expenses of correspondence, etc., and he would move that an appropriation of twenty-five dollars he made to cover these incidental expenses. Carried. A number of written and verbal reports from local societies were presented, which will be given at length in the latter part of the volume. Beports of Committees. — The reports made by the Com- mittee of Observation, so far as received, were read and briefly discussed. A number of them were made verbally and conse- quently were short and general in their character. This is to be regretted, as it is important to the horticultural interests of the state that these reports should be largely statistical and definite in character, giving the facts and practical experience of each sea- son, both for consideration at the time and for record. A number of reports came to hand too late to be read at this time, but all are given here for convenience of reference. FIRST DISTRICT — GEORGE JEFFREY, WATJWATOSA. COUNTIES — Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Ozau- kee and Washington. The summer of 1880 will be long remem- bered by the people of Wisconsin, as the best fruit year the in- habitants have ever seen. Apples were in great abundance, and one peculiarity is that the kinds considered tender, such as Northern Spy, Esopus Spitzenburg, Greening, Bellflower, Bald- win, Early Harvest, etc., were very fine. Golden Busset fruited well ; also Haas, Plumb's Cider, Dumelow's Seedling, Pewaukee, Bambo, Bed Astrachan, Sops of Wine, Vandervere Pippin, Twenty Ounce, Keswick Codling, Peck's Pleasant, Talman Sweet, Ben Davis, Autumn Strawberry, Jonathan, Fameuse, Fall Pippin, Alexander, Duchess, Seek-no-further, Willow Twig, Ut- ter, Winter Wine Sap, and many others seemed to vie with each other as to which should give us the best crop. The apple production was simply immense, they were fed to cows, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, etc., they were carted to the cider mill and made into cider, they rotted upon the ground. Some of the best were taken to market and sold for twenty cents per bushel, in early autumn. Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 105 The cherry crop was a good one, Early Richmond doing as well as the common pie cherry. Currants were a plentiful crop, but hardly a paying one, they were sold in Milwaukee market as low as thirty-five cents per bushel. Grapes were an abundant crop in this vicinity. Pears and plums were not so plentiful as last year. Among the pears that produced an average crop were Sugar, Buffum, Seckel, Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Vicar of Wink- field, Ananas d' Ete, Clapp's Favorite, Louise Bonne, etc. ; Beurre Hardy made fine wood growth, and gives promise of being a fine pear, ripens in September and October. Beurre d' Anjou made vigorous wood growth, but my trees are too young for fruit- ing. Howell and Sheldon, both of American origin, gave a few fine specimens and made nearly three feet of wood growth. Beurre Easter, Lawrence, Bell Lucrative, Emile d' Heyst, Rostie- zer, Manning's Elizabeth, Brandywine, Bloodgood, Beurre Gif- fard, Tyson, and Swan's Orange, are all delightful to the eye, which, to the lover of horticulture, is better than dollars and cents. Raspberries were a full crop. The Gregg bore off the palm for size, hardiness and productiveness. Strawberries were a good crop. Among those doing well and deserving special mention are Crescent Seedling, Sharpless, Cumberland Triumph, Capt. Jack, "Wilson, Ida, Prouty's Seedling. Charles Downing and Monarch of the West made but indifferent vine growth, berries too scat- tering to make a paying crop. Green's Prolific, on clay soil, did not seem to thrive well. Black Defiance the same. President Lincoln produced some fine berries, but I think they will do bet- ter with a little more sand than my soil contains. Mr. Stickney said the apple yield was so great that it was im- possible to utilize the crop, and full one quarter of it went to waste. Most of this might have been saved, and better returns could have been obtained for much that was sold, if we had had fruit-drying factories to work it up. A factory suitable for such a yield would be quite expensive, and would be remunerative if it could have steady employment, but where they would have to lie idle for three or four years at a time, or have but a small amount of fruit 106 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. to work up, it would not pay to invest in them. There were a number of portable dryers in the market that would work up a large amount of fruit during the season, and he had no doubt that the}' could be used to great profit in drying apples when plenty, and small fruits and other things, earlier in the season and years when apples were scarce. Much more of the crop could have been saved if we only knew how to market, both how to prepare the packages and where to ship. Much of the fruit that went to waste could have been sold at fair rates had it been packed in barrels in good shape and sent to common merchants near home. If put up in an attractive manner and in a shape in which it could be han- dled without injury, and so that it would keep for a reasonable time, many of our citizens who raise little or no fruit would buy freely for present and future use ; but where shipped loose in bags there was no inducement to buy. It is in a poor condition to keep, and must be sold at low prices, if at all. It is true that currants had been very cheap, but they had sold their whole crop at $1.50 profit on a bushel, while the market price had been one dollar and less, simply because they were packed, shipped and put on the market in good shape. Mr. Hoxie, of Cookville, inquired if it would not have paid to have made the apples up into cider and wine. It is true that there is a moral question about it, but for certain uses there is no doubt but that these articles could be used properly and to advantage. The sweet apples were undoubtedly good for stock, and would be used freely by them. SECOND DISTRICT — J. C. rLUMB, MILTON. Counties — Eoch, Walworth. Green, Dane, La Fayette and Iowa. — The year 1880 will be remembered as " the great apple year."' If our town assessors are taithful in securing statistics of this crop, the next annual leport of our secretary of state will show a yield beyond all precedent in all southern Wisconsin. Not only was the yield large, but remarkable for size and perfec- tion of specimens. The home market was, of course, soon glutted ; and prices run from one dollar per bushel for best early, to ten cents per bushel for the mass of fall apples, which neither the cider mills or domestic use could conserve, and as few were sup- Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 107 plied with facilities for exporting, it is safe to say that one-half the crop was fed to stock or left to decay upon the ground and in temporary storage. Not one-fifth of the bulk of this great crop were long-keeping varieties, and even those connot be expected to keep as well as usual. The lessons coming from this year's expe- rience are, first, to plant winter varieties, and second, to provide advanced facilities for using or keeping any possible amount of fall and winter apples. Of other fruits, pears were not as good a crop as usual. Cherries were very abundant; grapes below average. Raspberries were generally injured the previous winter and gave but a small crop. Strawberries were a great crop, and the season was prolonged by rains. Snyder blackberry a great success, also Stone's Hardy. Both varieties show themselves hardy enough to do without win- ter protection on high, dry, light-colored soils. Our record of current events shows that we commenced lifting trees April 5 and had four weeks for nursery trade ; June 8 to July 1 picked strawberries ; July 5 to 20 picked raspberries ; July 16 to 30 picked blackberries; July 26 commenced pick- ing Tetofsky apples, two-thirds grown, for market, which brought twice the money they would at full maturity four weeks later ; September 1st commenced picking Utter for winter keeping, nearly full size, following up with Plumb's Cider, Fameuse, etc., through the month. These all promise to keep well through win- ter ; all in bu?hel cases : September 27 commenaed lifting trees for fall delivery; November 9, last day of fall work; Novem- ber 12 ground froze up; November 29, twelve inches of ice on the pond ; ground froze up dry, and great danger to the roots of all delicate trees and plants from spring killing. Blight was not prevalent except in rich grounds and with high culture. Our experiments show that an excessive flow of sap, under favorable conditions of atmosphere, will develop blight in some of its many forms, at will. Fruit growers are more and more coming to the conclusion that the bearing orchard should be seeded down and moderately pastured, as a means of promoting health and longevity. Mr. Lawrence was called upon to give an account of his grapes 108 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. the past season. In response he said that they had been a failure. Many of his varieties had died out or been dug up. He had neglected them from want of time to trim and train them prop- erly, and on this account they were much more subject to mildew, from want of a free circulation of air. There had been more mildew the past season than usual. Thrips had injured the leaves so that the fruit did not ripen well. In addition to these difficul- ties, the birds had become so troublesome that it was impossible to secure any of the fruit. They would attack the bunches be- fore they were fit to eat and completely strip the vines. To get any fruit at all, it was necessary to exterminate the birds or to en- close each bunch with netting or paper sacks. On account of these things he had given up trying to raise grapes. THIED DISTEICT. — GEOEGE C. HILL, EOSENDALE. Counties — Jefferson, Dodge, Columbia and Fond du Lao. I have had no opportunity for observation outside of my own county the past season. In this vicinity, the season was noted for the great abundance and fine quality of the apple crop. Having had three successive mild winters, and only moderate crops for the past two years, the fruit trees of all kinds were prepared to do their best. Tree3 had made a good growth of well-ripened wood in 1879. In 1880 they bloomed full. There were no late frosts, no tent caterpillar, no codling moth, few hard winds, the season was moist and the fall favorable. All these combined to produce an enormous crop of large, fair and finely flavored fruit. Many carloads were shipped north and west. Thousands of bushels were made into cider. Many were left ungathered or fed to stock, while all have had an abundance of this useful and health-giving fruit. The only drawback so far known is the loss of a good many trees from splitting apart and breaking down, occasioned by being overloaded. The Golden Russet suffered most from this cause. Many of our apple trees have this defect, owing to improper pruning, or the failure to prune properly when young. The Westfield Seek-no-Further outdid all other varieties in the abund- ance and fairness of its fruit. The Duchess, Tetofsky and lied Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 109 Astrachan were magnificent. Fall Orange, Tallman Sweet, Fam- euse and Golden Russet were also very fine. Another season's observation and experience has convinced me more than ever before, that bearing orchards, in this climate, should not be in cultivation. Of course, we have had several moist seasons in succession, lately, and it is perhaps true that in a dry season, followed by a very cold winter, trees standing in un- cultivated ground, would suffer more than when cultivated ; but this would, be more than counterbalanced by a less liability to in- jury from overbearing, and from late growth in the fall. It is feared in this region that the heavy crop of the past season, fol- lowed by the extreme cold of this winter, will result in injury to bearing trees. Fewer young trees are being planted, and less attention is given to orcharding on a large scale, than fifteen or twenty years ago ; still people generally are trying to provide for home use, and are cultivating garden and small fruits much more abundantly. Cher- ries were very plenty. The Early Richmond trees presented a beautiful appearance as the fruit ripened. Not more than an av- erage crop of small fruits was raised. Some varieties of the grape showed signs of mildew, in this vicinity. The Concord and Delaware still maintain their reputation. It is estimated that over one-half of the currant bushes are already dead. Others were saved by a little care, and continue to furnish a plentiful supply of this old stand-by. The Ancient Briton blackberry continues to do well and is being planted in many of the farmers' gardens, and will do well if the canes are protected in the winter. Here and there a farmer has set shade trees by the roadside. This is a subiect which should receive more attention, and which it would be well for the Society to discuss, not only to encourage their planting, but to secure the planting of the varieties best for this purpose. Many of the kinds now used have been injured by high winds, and do not seem well calculated to stand in such ex- posed locations. The rage for crowding the dooryards with evergreens is passing away, and a more judicious planting of these beautiful and neces- sary trees is noticed. A few are cultivating belts of forest trees, 110 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. while others are preserving groves of the native young timber, and are thus becoming benefactors to the race, for which their children will call them blessed. FOURTH DISTRICT — A. L. HATCH, ITHACA. Counties — Richland, Sank, Vernon and Crawford. — The apple crop of 1880 was very large, prices low, and the home market abundantly supplied with home-grown fruit until late in the fall. Too much of early and perishable fruits are grown, overstocking the home markets and reducing prices to an unprofitable degree. No wholesale plan of saving such fruit has been introduced yet, and the general tendency of all interested seems to be to cider- making only for this purpose. Should stability of crops be established, an early introduction of fruit evaporators, adapted to general farmers' use, would be very desirable. We respectfully commend this subject in all its features to your consideration. One of the worst troubles with apples this season was black scab, apparently a fungus. Fameuse was very badly affected. As suggested bv discussion last winter, we top-grafted several apple trees before the sap flowed, and, as far as time of operation is concerned, consider it quite successful. Canker worms, so destructive and plenty for several years, ap- peared here early in the season, and then suddenly disappeared about the 1st of July, we think. Why did they go so suddenly ? Was it the birds that took them? Good bye ! to them anyhow, and good riddance ! Many early maturing apples were of un- usually poor flavor, notably the Haas apple. Why? Ben Davis in tree and fruit very fine. Wish we had more, if they are not superlatively good in quality. Had all the fire blight we wanted, especially on Golden Russet. Grapes were very plenty of home fruitage, and very cheap. This is the third or fourth good crop in succession here, and we begin to look on grape culture as solidly fixed with us. The ras- cally gall louse (phylloxera), we are now satisfied, is one of the prime causes of loss of foliage on many vines, especially Agawam and Delaware. What do the grape growers think of it ? The much talked of paper bag experiment we tried, and did not think Transactions at the Annual Meeting. Ill the bunches of grapes enclosed in them enough, if any, better to pay for the trouble. We should be ungrateful to the Wisconsin Horticultural Society if we did not acknowledge our success with the mulching of straw- berry plants as advocated and acquiesced in at the last winter meeting. The plan was to leave the winter mulching undisturbed until the fruit was grown. This would keep the fruit clean from the dirt usually spattered on the fruit by the rains. It would keep the ground moist and furnish the plants with moisture when so much needed. It would maintain fertility of the right sort. Lastly, and happily, it would save labor by keeping down weeds, and, withal, it would be much easier to let it alone than to remove it. I frankly acknowledge that this saving of labor was the con- sideration that warmly commended it to my judgment. I did not think, however, that " as for me and my house," the labor saving would go one degree farther and relieve us of all trouble in picking the fruit as it really did last season. Our experiment was so complete that we had no berries to pick on beds where we left the mulching. Why? Because the weather was very wet and cool, and on our clay soil the mulching held too much water and kept the beds too cool. We saved the labor anyway, so we are grateful. The greatest degree of cold here this winter so far is — 29°, against — 40° in the vallies. FIFTH DISTRICT — E. W. DANIELS, AURORAVILLE. Counties — Green Lake, Waushara, Marquette and Winne- bago. — In physical geography of our fifth district, the east half of Waushara, all of Winnebago and Green Lake, are mostly good grain and fruit growing soils ; some stiff clay, but mostly clay and sandy loams, gravelly knolls, with hay and cranberry marshes ; but Marquette and the west half of Waushara are diversified with light sand and fertile bottom lands, susceptible of producing the hardier varieties of apples, and any amount of the crab. There would have been an abundant crop of fruit in the last named counties the last season, but for one or two powerful wind and hail storms which swept over them, destroying trees and fruit. But the east half of Waushara, Winnebago and Green 112 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Lake had the largest crop of apples ever produced, by probably one-third. The cause of it was, as I believe, a heavy spring frost, and the late spring of 1878, which was the bearing year about here, killing the embryo fruit. The plums, tame and wild, suf- fered more than any other fruit from this frost. It not only killed the fruit sets, but the trees of the Winnebago, Wild Goose and Hinkley, but wild ones also, so that thej 7 did not produce a plum till the last season, when the fruit was very abundant and nice, as the curculio did not propagate its species during the two or three years of no crops. This heavy crop of apples has deterred some from buying trees, saying, "it does not pay to raise apples, as it costs nearly all we get to gather and market or make into cider," which I found to be true. The net profit over care and expenses has been less than in any year since I have raised apples for sale, for fifteen or sixteen years. But, on the other hand, those having no fruit are stimulated to make a commencement on a larger scale than for- merly, as money is more lax than before. Varieties of Apples. — Duchess of Oldenburg holds its own as to hardiness and productiveness, but its popularity has over stocked the country with it, and its immense crops have been in part consigned to the waste basket, or fed to hogs or cider mills. I find the Ben Davis a good tree here, and north as far as Green Bay. Fall Orange, Fameuse, Walbridge, fitter's Large Eed, Haas, Talman Sweet, Astrachan and Sweet Pear are all doing well. I have five or six new seedlings. One I have had for fourteen years, the Aurora Belle. The tree did not kill as much as Duchess in the winters of 1874 and 1875. Apple, large and fine, and keeps with the Fameuse, but I regard the Northwestern Greening as the best. Apple, size of Utter's Large Bed, as good as Bhode Island Greening ; keeps till June ; tree grows one- fourth faster than any other in nursery or orchard. The other seedlings I cannot say anything about at present. The amount of tree planting in this county has been more than usual the past year and a half, but not of the fruit producing kind, to which I may allude hereafter. Blight, the past season, has been more extensive than for many years past — four or Tbansactions at the Annual Meeting. 113 more. I have had but little of it, except one Flemish Beauty pear tree killed, and some branches on others. Some very rapid growing crab and apple trees, one and two years old, have been killed to the ground, and others part way, and many branches on larger trees of the fast growing varieties. Some of our farmers west of here told me in early summer they had lost most of their trees, but I think they mainly recovered. Grapes are a fruit of which the millions should partake, and every farmer should raise. The quality has been much improved by the introduction of the Eogers' Hybrids and the Worden. These varieties are rampant growers, and profuse bearers of large fruit. The Worden is eight or ten days earlier than the Concord ; but the Janesville is much earlier than any other, and is prefer- able for market in this high latitude, as it always ripens in autumn and is seldom harmed by frost in spring. I have no trouble with blight, mildew, birds or any insects. This year, for the first time, I had a scalding or sun-blight on most of my No. 15, a little on Delaware, Janesville, Salem, ISTo. 9 and Iona, and they shed their foliage early, causing the fruit to ripen unevenly, and in some cases not at all. The Ancient Briton blackberry, since I have learned how to treat it, far surpasses any other berry for profit. Its yield is from 150 to 175 bushels to the acre, and will, in our small mar- kets, sell for one shilling per quart (Smith's standard, forty quarts to the bushel), making five dollars per bushel, $750 per acre. I have not the data of expenses per acre for culture and gathering, but think seventy-five or ninety dollars would be enough. They require laying down in winter. This we formerly thought im- practicable, but now find it to be easily done, as they have but two large or main roots opposite each other, with few small ones. We take a manure fork (potato fork is better), stick under the crown, pry up and down and move it sideways a few times, then you can bend in the root every time without fear of breaking, put on a few inches of earth and it is done. When planting, put the roots at about thirty degrees from a right angle in the rows, then they can be bent without touching the next hill or row. Tent caterpillars, or, as some call them, army worms, flourished 8 — Hokt. 114 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. here and north in 1877 and 1878, but their ravages were mostly confined to forest trees ; the linden or basswood suffered most. I hear the tops are all dead, supposed to be from this cause. Since those years our bees have gathered little or nothing from this most prolific source of our best honey. But fruit trees have suffered none as far as I can learn. Some of my fruit tree3 were covered late in the season with these worms in a dormant state, but I never saw any marks of depredations. The last two years they have nearly or quite disappeared. These worms are very unlike the same variety in the New England states. They are smaller, darker colored, and feed entirely on the young foliage of the ap- ple, and denude every tree in an orchard of every vestige of a leaf by the first or tenth of June. Another subject I must mention before closing this report, one which I think needs legislation as much as the adulteration of food, and by which this district has suffered great loss, and that is the work of a herd of unprincipled, irresponsible vagabonds, who come here from other states with exaggerated cuts of showy fruit and bottles containing magnified specimens by which to en- trap and mislead the unwary and inexperienced would-be-fruit- grower. Were a full account of their tricks and swindling opera- tions in this section given, it would weary your patience and seem almost beyond belief. A few sample cases will suffice : A man in Nepeuskin, Green Lake county, bought $800 worth of their stock, and after bestowing a great deal of care on it, in planting and cultivation, what remains to day is not worth ten dollars. A resident of Waushara county, who is well acquainted with the ex- tent of their operations, estimates the amount of their swindles in the middle and western part of that poor county at $8,000. Its results are worse to the public than stealing so much money, for in addition to the loss, it disheartens the purchaser, and others who witness the result, so that they will not make any further at- tempts to raise fruit. At a recent meeting in Green Bay this sub- ject was discussed, and an instance was related where a wealthy man had spent a large amount of money in the preparation of his land for an orchard, and had stocked it with these high priced and wonderful fine varieties of fruit, only to find after years of wait- TBANS ACTIONS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. 115 ing that instead of an extra orchard, he had nothing better than crab?, and the commonest varieties of seedlings. Can nothing be done to stop this fraud in selling worthless trash for such high prices and as fruit of extra quality? It is nothing but wholesale robbery which costs the citizens of this state thousands of dollars every year, and for which some redress should be devised. SIXTH DISTRICT — C. W. POTTER, MAUSTOX. Couxties — Adams, Juneau and Monroe. — The past season has been one of unusual encouragement to fruit growers of this dis- trict. The winter of .1879-80 was comparatively mild, and no serious damage was done to apple trees, grape vines or small fruits of any kind. They all blossomed full, and as there were no late frosts to destroy them, nearly every blossom produced fruit. Many varieties of apple trees were so heavily loaded that the high winds during the summer nearly destroyed them. As far as my expe- rience can judge, the most productive standard varieties are as follows, in the order named : Duchess, Farneuse, TJtter's Red and Pewaukee. Our orchards are all young or nearly so, and the above estimate is for young trees. Old orchards might show a different result. I think Pewaukee and Walbridge deserve es- pecial mention. The trees seem to be just as hardy as the Trans- cenclant crab ; the fruit is of good quality, keeps well, and is smooth and clear from specks. There were fully as many trees planted in this district last year as the year previous, and with better results. Nearly all the trees planted last spring made a good start, owing to frequent rains through April and May, which kept the ground moist. They still looked well in the fall, and bid fair to go through the winter all right. As to destructive insects, there has been but little com- plaint. The blight showed itself in nearly all parts of the dis- trict, although much more in some places than in others. It seems to be worse on the sandy soil than on the higher ridges of clay soil, that is, on apple and crab trees. But pear trees blighted badly. I saw one in Judge Winsor's orchard, Mauston, four inches in diameter, loaded with pears, killed to the ground. Tame plums blossomed full, but nearly all blighted. The native plums 116 Wisconsin State Hobticultueal Society. bore in abundance, both in forest and orchard. The Early Rich- mond cherry was a fair crop. Grape3 were a good crop, and no early frosts to injure them. Concord and Delaware are the varie- ties mostly planted here. Raspberries, goooseberries and currants were a fair crop, although the currant worm injured them some. Strawberries were not a satisfactory crop ; the fruit was inferior and the season short. SEVENTH DISTRICT — D. HUNTLEY, APPLETON. Counties — Outagamie, Shawano and Waupaca. — The past season has been very good for apples, pears, grapes and all small fruits except strawberries ; they were not a full crop, owing, I think, to the dry fall of 1879. There has been some complaint that apples have not kept well this winter. The principal reason, I believe, is not so much in the season as in the time and manner of gathering and packing. Three-quarters of the apples were on the ground in many of the orchards before picking for winter commenced at all. The Jonathan, Minkler, Pewaukee ; Walbridge and Willow Twig were fruited for the first time in this locality, to any extent, and at present writing, January 30, are all, except the Pewaukee, in good condition. The Jonathan is especially fine, both in tree and fruit, and if this winter does not injure it, I think there will be more set the coming spring. The Minkler and Red Romanite are still as hard as bullets. The trees of the two last named are also looking nicely. The Pewaukee and AVal bridge not as nice. I have a barrel of picked Fameuse that are in fine condition (Jan- uary 30), and look as if they would keep a couple of months longer. They have been good to eat lor three months past. I think this variety more profitable than any other grown here, with, perhaps, the exception of the Talman Sweet. Our local society are willing and anxious to test anything that promises to be an acquisition, and will set the coming spring the "Wealthy apple, the Crescent strawberry, the Gregg raspberry and Stone's Hardy blackberry. Some growing the Philadelphia rasp- berry think it more profitable than the black caps for our market. There has been little or no blight either on apple or pear trees Transactions at the Annual Meeting. Ill the past season, not even enough to test the truth of Prof. Bur- rill's theory. The tent caterpillar was not as destructive this year as the last, or the year previous. The best thing yet found for their destruction is soap suds ; it kills every time and is a benefit to tbe trees. Cherries were a good crop. Very few try to grow plums, or any but wild ones. The Concord and Delaware grapes, and some of Rogers' Hybrids are bearing fine crops, and there is an increasing interest in grape- culture. NINTH DISTRICT. — A. J. PHILIPS, WEST SALEM. Counties — La Crosse, Trempealeau, Jackson, Buffalo, and the valleys of the Chippewa and St. Croix. Tbe winter of 1870 and 1880 being favorable to fruit growing, there was a large number of fruit trees set in the spring of 1880, and I think they were cared for better than those set previous years, owing to the fact that farmers are beginning to learn that trees will not grow and bear without proper care. Everything being favorable, trees blossomed full, and, cs was the case almost everywhere, bore an abundant crop ; apples especially. The result was the market was glutted. Apples in the fall were brought up the Mississippi river to La Crosse and other points and sold as low as one dollar per barrel, which made the price paid the farmer unusually low. I had a fine crop of Wealthies for young trees, which sold readily at one dollar per bushel when Fameuse sold from sixty to seventy-five cents. Crabs were so plenty that pigs or cattle would hardly eat them, though the No. 20 sold readily at a fair price. I had fifteen bushels o: them, which was as many as the rest of La Crosse county produced, as I set the first trees in this locality. From what I can learn, grapes and strawberries were not a very satisfactory crop. Personally 1 am not posted on them. The Wilson, I think, is still the leading strawberry for general planting, and I have heard of no grape that leads the Concord for all pur- poses. Some very fine fruit was exhibited at the La Crosse county fair, samples of Haas, Utter, Wealthy, Golden Russet and Pe- waukee being very fine. I took the premium on Wealthy at Wis- consin and Minnesota state fairs, but was fairly beaten here on a single plate by a townsman of mine to whom I sold trees in 1875 118 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Ben Davis trees bore full crops, and though not first class apples, owing to their excellent keeping qualities, they are coming into favor. I saw one Flemish Beauty pear tree in my town on which I counted over ninety as fine pears as I ever saw exhibited. The man never bought and set but that one pear tree. It bore over forty pears in 1879 and over ninety in 1880, for which he received premiums both years at the county fair. This is one case where pears have cost less than five dollars each. We have in this dis- trict much bluff and rough land, that, when varieties hardy enough are found, will raise large quantities of fruit. 1 saw Fameuse trees last fall in this county that looked very thrift} 7 , and the man who planted them said they had borne fair crops for eighteen years. I visited Mr. Jordan's orchard in Minnesota last summer, and could plainly see the effects of the previous winter, both on Duchess and Wealthy trees, while Haas and some tenderer varie- ties seemed to be less hurt. I will not give you any report of the present winter here, only to say that trees made a fine growth last summer and went into winter in splendid shape. Ground wet and wood well ripened, but it has been cold, yes, very cold, the thermometer marking forty to forty-two below zero in the valleys, and thirty-four to thirty-six on the hills. We can tell much bet- ter about the effect, next winter or fall. The aggregate thermom- eter for the month so far is 276 degrees below ; the coldest on record, as given by Bro. Kellogg in 1875, being 223 degrees be- low, making this the coldest January for thirty years nearly. A man who had a nice crop of apples last fall told me yesterday that he would be willing to bet that not one apple tree in thirty thousand in Wisconsin will survive the present winter. Of course I don't believe him, because I don't want to believe that story. If this winter had been mild, a large number of apple trees would have been set in 1881, but as it now looks the num- ber will be limited. Duchess, Wealthy and Fameuse stand at the head of standards. No. 20, Transcendent and Orange at the head of crabs. The North western Horticultural Society, organized at La Crosse in 1879, held a meeting in December, 1880, at La Crosse, our worthy president being present and giving them a talk on strawberries. Quite a growing interest was manifested Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 119 although the attendance was not large. Officers for the next year are J. S. Harris, of La Crescent, president ; A. J. Philips, vice president; L. W. Brigham, of La Crosse, secretary, and L. H. Paramell, treasurer. They reported a membership of about forty for the past year. Mr. Wilcox gives favorable reports of his young nursery at La Crosse. He showed fine specimens of fruit and trees. He is still firm in the belief that it needs hardy stocks to make trees stand in this climate. I have not seen him since the very cold weather, but I am satisfied he has not changed his mind. TWELFTH DISTICT — J. M. SMITH, GREEN BAY. Counties — Brown, Kewaunee, Door and Oconto. — My report for this district for the year past will be very short. The apple crop has been the largest ever knowD. All things considered, the Duchess is the most certain of any of our varieties to give the owner a fair return for his investment and labor, unless it is the Fameuse. If I were going to set an orchard of any size in this district, I should certainly make it up largely of these two varie- ties. Some trees of the Walbridge variety have been set within a few years past, and as far as my knowledge of them extends, they are doing well, and promise well for the future. The grape crop has been a fair one. In one instance I have known the Delaware to drop its leaves to so great an extent as to nearly ruin the crop. Agawam was in some instances injured by mildew. Strawberry crop only a moderate one. Wilson still keeps the lead as a market berry. Last summer my Crescents bore a heavier crop in proportion to the area they covered than the Wilson. I found them too soft to ship any considerable distance. I shall try them still farther and give them as fair a test next season as I know how, and will report the result. The crop of wild blackberries has been very large, many more than could be used in our home market. They are shipped to points farther south. The crop of wild raspberries was also fair. The crop of plums was the largest that I have ever known in this portion of the state. The Miners bore for the first time about here. I do not 120 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. know of a tree of them that was not loaded. Some of mine had to be braced up to keep them from being ruined. The fruit ripened well, and was of good quality. The pear crop was only moderate in quantity, but very fine in quality. Flemish Beauty does the best. Altogether the look for fruit growing in this district is slowly but surely improving. The following communications were presented by the secretary, from two of the oldest members of the society, and most earnest, zealous workers in promoting the interests of horticulture, both still at work in this mission, one in Limona, Florida, and the other at La Crosse. COMMUNICATION FROM J. G. KNAPP. LlMOXA, HlLLSBOEO COUXTY, FLORIDA. Members of the Wisconsin Slate Horticultural Society : Your meetings knew me once, and I have given in them some thought to Wisconsin's resources, in its fruits and other products. For nine years I have been absent, but, it would seem, not en- tirely forgotten. !STo companion has afforded more pleasure than, when in your state, I sat at the feet of nature holding converse and listening to her counsels. The rocks of the north, the sand belts of the middle, and rich soils of the south have been my teachers- The stria? bowlder-cut in the surface of the ledges of Dane are scarcely more tenacious than the lessons then traced on my memory. The long sermons there preached by trees, shrubs and plants, to me, Mali never be forgotten. The cold and hot winds had messages. Some of these I have clad in weak words for the benefit of fruit-growers and farmers of your state. Other sermons have been heard, other lessons listened to, on the plains, as one looks towards the Eocky Mountains, in those mountains, in the valleys and along the streams that flow from snow-clad peaks; and now for the past five jears the Great Teacher has been instructing me under the evergreen trees, the unfailing flowers and fruits of South Florida. No lessons have been more pleasant than these last, and listening to them, I expect to close my work. Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 121 Since the dav when want drove me from the face of Wisconsin, a geological survey of that state has taken place. Men versed in the mysteries of rocks and minerals, geological commotions and periods, fossils and crystals, seams and ore veins in rocks, in argilla- ceous and aluminous earths, have traversed that state, and have made volumes finely illustrated, fall of fat things for other men equally learned, and with choice pictures for children, young and old. Large sums of money have been expended, and as one of the tax payers of Wisconsin, I have asked myself, has it been well spent? Or must some other man of less learning and more practical common sense, strain out of this flood of learning grains of practical knowledge for the use of common men? My friend, J. C. Plumb, has done considerable such straining, but many more golden grains are left behind. The United States has also placed a very few of her enlisted men to observe the variations of the thermometer and barometer, the variations and velocity of the winds and the rainfalls. From these, "Old Probabilities" has been forecasting the character of the climate for to-morrow, but how few of the people even know the meaning of the vague language in which it is couched, if, indeed, they even see the papers which each morning print the predictions. These do great good, and have developed an idea I had long before advanced ; but how much more could have been done for the people. Fruit- growers and farmers most desire knowledge of the character of the outer six feet of the earth's surface, the rainfall on that surface and the seasons of its fall ; of the heat and sunshine necessarv to produce their crops and the cold that will destroy those crops. Here is where the student of nature gets in his work, and the philanthropist gives his advice to man. Prudent is he who gives heed to that advice. Well do I remember the first time, perhaps, you met, as you do to-day, in the capitol of Wisconsin. You were weak then, and } r ou had no speaker, with a learned address for the public ear. Your secretary, then as now my friend, found me at work in the basement of the old capitol, and, with malice in his heart, drew out of me some thought?, and finally seduced me into writing some foolish things, which I was unable to defend under cross- 122 Wisconsin State Horticultural Socirty. examination. Thank fortune, you printed no "Transactions"" in those days, and the foolish remarks, hastily penned, have failed to see the light. Still, if it did no good to others, it did much for me. It gave inspiration to the Report on the Destruction of the Forest Trees of Wisconsin; to the several papers I have read be- fore your meetings in aftertimes, and to the paper on the "Isother- mal Lines of "Wisconsin," with which your Report for 1871 is closed ; also to the framing of the acts of Wisconsin, concerning Tree Culture. That same inspiration has followed me still. In the lead of the times, I have made now and then a blaze on a tree in the untraveled ways ; and now I have the pleasure of see- ing myself passed in the race for knowledge. Go on, horticultur- ists ; yow have a great work before you — a nation to instruct. Remember it is not the geologist, the superintendents of the signal service, you are to teach, but the common minds ; some call them " Clod-hoppers." No matter, so they hop ahead. You are teach- ing men to learn to supply themselves with comforts, health, some with wealth. Your enemy is no less powerful than the elements, and you must call in the assistance of nature if you would con- quer. That all-powerful ally aids those who know how to use her. Your reports tell me of the strides you have made, the re- doubts you have overcome, the assaults you have made on those which remain. I see that one and another have been seduced, like myself, to other regions; but we all look back with delight at every victory you win. Most have selected regions of climatic conditions similar to Wisconsin; myself, perhaps alone, the most dissimilar. But even here, the lessons I learned in Wisconsin are of immense service. Trees and shrubs, rainfalls and droughts, heat and cold, sunshine and shade, and currents of wind are my teachers still. The soil on which I tread gives its faithful lessons of truth and knowledge. All trees and shrubs, with a few rare exceptions, are strangers to Northern eyes ; many old friends do not show their faces, and one asks fearfully, will they ever do so ? The black oak dwarfed, the wild cherry and basswood here and there, and Cherokee plum, and we have called the roll. All the rest are strangers, and teach strange lessons. The rains, too, often four times as great as in Wisconsin, falling in seasons, with a heat Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 123 sufficient for almost continuous growth, often scald the exotic plants we try to rear, and so limit our old varieties of vegetables on the farm, in the garden and flower bed, but impart to some others and to strangers a magnificence unknown, even in the Northern greenhouse. From this cause the winter garden comes. The summer sun pours its rays almost vertically, and requires a hat whose brim is broad as the Mexican /Sombrero, or the Chinese bamboo umbrella. This gives life and strength to the banana, pineapple, yam and sweet potato, and perfects fruits like the sugar and other custard apples, guavas, mangoes, sapoddlas, and all the citric tribes, ripening these last, and especially the orange, as it ripens nowhere else. Here one listens to the winds soughing through the tops of the "long-strawed " pines, and asks whence they come and whither they go. The answer is unmistakable in terms, like this: "We belong neither to the great whirl of the north, which sweeps over the plains of Man- itoba and freezes the great lakes; nor to the hot currents that sweep and whirl along the base of the rocky ranges and over the plains where grasshoppers luxuriate, and in Iowa and Wisconsin scorch the leaves like a sirocco, and at other times tear fences and buildings from their foundations, uproot trees and devastate farms; nor do we come from that other parabolic whirl which creates the gulf stream and so often engulfs navies in tornadoes ; but we hold the neutral ground between them all, not unlike the little republic of Switzerland, bending before the one and the other, yet holding the position.'' To drop metaphor, along the west coast of this peninsula is a tract of sea and land nearly two hundred miles in diameter, having this county as its center, over which tornadoes never roll and frosts seldom fall to injure the most tender plants. Though we promptly receive from every side a climati-graph of heat and cold, winds and storms, a thous- and miles distant, yet it comes modified in all respects till only close observers see the sign. The cold winds reach us over sea o gulf, warmed from their bosoms. The heat is always moderated by constant breezes, and the shade of tree or house is always pleasant. The thermometer ranges between freezing and blood heat, with an average of 73° Fahrenheit, seldom touching the 124 Wisconsin State Horticultubal Society. extremes. One fact is unaccountable to me. This same region, away from the banks of the gulf, bays and rivers, is almost free from the pest of mosquetoes and gnats. So, all in all, if I were asked to locate an Eden in the United States, I should be tempted to name Limona. Here we tremble not from fear of the pesti- lence of the yellow fever, diphtheria, small-pox and its allies, and laugh at malaria. But enough ! I only desired to direct attention, as I am re- joiced to see your minds are already directed, to a study of the soils, winds, heats and colds, and the plants adapted to each and every climatic condition, and how man may correct or modify the acerbities of nature. You have done much; you can do much more. To your efforts Wisconsin owes more than to all the geological surveys, the signal service and the chemical analyses of the entire learned men of the age. They have done good ; but you are the school teachers of the age, and the pittance allowed for printing your reports is the best expended money from the state treasury. Godspeed your work. HARDY EOOTS AND HARDY STOCKS. (E. Wilcox, La Crosse.) For years friend Stickoey has had the monopoly of a little drive at me, and as I want 3^011 all to enjoy all you can out of it, for I mean to have my time with you, I now give the particulars. A number of years ago he and I were at the Minnesota state fair, and put up at the same house. In the course of conversation I got off some of my fanaticism (probably on temperance). When I went out, our landlord remarked that if that man found a mountain in his way he was not going round it, but over it, and I am some- times reminded by brother Stickney in this way, "I see you are still climbing that mountain." Now, perhaps mountain is a proper term to express the discouragements, losses and difficulties which have met the tree-planter in the northwest. Well, for years I fol- lowed my illustrious predecessor in a flank movement around this mountain, which has been as devious and crooked as Grant's line to Richmond. The first flank movement was to get hardy roots for our trees. To do this it was recommended to use a long Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 125 cion when grafting, and set deep so as to get roots from the cion. Another flanker would slit the bark near the ground when trans- planting, thus aiding the cion to put out roots, the tree to be set deep. Another would take up his trees when one or two years old and transplant again in the nursery, setting six inches deeper than before. All the array of flankers would mulch or water their trees in the fall if the winter was likely to set in with the ground dry. Now, it seems their faith was not very strong as to their long cion and set deep theory ; hence they fall back on mulch and water. Let us examine this a little. J. J. Thomas, when at state farm, Michigan, found roots belonging to a tree four- teen feet high, to extend fourteen feet from the trunk. Supposing they spread as far the other way, you would have a spread of roots twenty-eight feet, and the extremities of the>e roots need the mulch or water more than the large roots near the tree, where the mulch and water are always applied. Now. I will leave it to others to figure out the amount of water needed to water the whole orchard with a sufficient quantity to properly wet the roots. I only know that every one would need an inexhaustible supply, with a wind- mill, elevated tank and street sprinkler. And hereafter I suggest that the mulch and water advocates, when selling trees, inform the purchaser that he must procure the above named articles to insure success. Now this horticultural mountain is not a local affair; it is found to extend from New York to Illinois. At South Haven, Michigan, in May, 1875, a committee appointed for that purpose, sent circulars far and wide inquiring as to root kill- ing, especially for the winter preceding. Responses were received and published, extending from Geneva, New York, to Warsaw, Illinois. There was nothing new or interesting to me except, per- haps, that misery likes company. I found that our losses and ex- perience of 1872-3 had extended two hundred miles south. The committee in summing up say that there is but little difference as to varieties in killing. So it would seem long cion and roots from it did not save them. P. Barry reported instances rare of this kind — one winter, some twenty years ago, and last winter the only instances in thirty-five years. This is often enough for an old man who has pretty much his all in an orchard. I will give 126 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. you a part of the report of D. K. Waters, Spring Lake, Mich. He says his neighbor, Thos. Petty, had imposed upon him fifty al- mond trees for peach, and although the peach all around these fifty trees bad been root killed, not one of these almond trees has suffered. He asks, as a remedy against root killing, does not this experience suggest to nurserymen that it might be valuable to bud the peach on the almond stock? A few words in regard to root killing in Wisconsin, Northern Illinois and Minnesota, in 1872-3, will close the root question at present. The Galena Advertiser, in speaking of the nurserymen, said the severe winter of 1872-3 wiped out a large percentage of their stock. C. H. Greenman said large numbers of fruit trees and vines were entirely killed during the winter of 1872-3. The list of Ironclads were no exception to the wholesale destruction. Chas. M. Hambright said, "I might add that, side by side in our yearling seedling block, the common apple seedlings were ninety- five per cent, killed, but not one of the crab, with about the same proportion of loss in our three and four year old grafts." My own experience agrees fully with Mr. Hambright's statement. And I will add that we had about one hundred Tetofski grafted on apple roots ; not more than six survived, while twenty-five of that kind budded in the tops of seedling crabs, came through all right. My mind is settled that the crab root is hardy. But our flankers say it dwarfs the standard, and Mr. Kellogg has put it in his Chapter of Humbugs. Now, let us go back a little to the record. At the winter meet- ing, 1875, I think, I exhibited two Price's Sweet trees, one of them grown from a graft made for us by J. S. Stickney, and among the best ; the other grafted by us on crab root, this last equal or superior. Then Mr. Stickney said he was surprised at the samples of growth, and he hoped it would continue to de- velop. He thought it was worthy of extended trial. His expe- rience had been that it tended to dwarf growth. Now, this ex- tended trial that Mr. Stickney thought it worthy of, is just what we are making, and the encouragement we are getting from the society is nothing but condemnation. This has gone so far that we are met by some of those who read your transactions, with Tbansactions at the Annual Meeting. 127 the statement, other nurserj^men do not agree with you. I can only reply, some of them do not agree with themselves ; some- times they have recommended crab roots and then condemned them. Now, notwithstanding I was too poor and old to spend money or strength merely to take the conceit out of the heads of these wise ones, still I concluded to take a few trees from our nursery at " Mount Hope," near La Crosse, grafted on crab roots, to the state fair, at Madison, last September. These trees were more than twice as large as those of the same age exhibited by my competitor, Mr. Plumb, and this is about the way he went for me then : "I should think you were old enough to know better than to grow trees as fast as you have those. They will not stand the winter; the wood is immature, it is yellow." My reply was, " I think not." After the committee had awarded me the premium, I found a limb of one of my trees had been cut off, to the preceding year's growth. I asked Mr. Plumb if he did it? He said, "Yes." "Well, how did you find the wood?" "It is all right." was the reply. I will say I find it extremely difficult to suit you. First, it is dwarfing ; next, the trees are too large. Perhaps the medium I may find to suit, Now, gentlemen, one of your own number has told the whole story about this crab theory, and Mr. Plumb de- serves the credit. In the report for 1872, Mr. Tuttle recommended the Transcend- ent crab for a stock to top work the standard apple on, and said : "I have full faith that this method of top grafting on a hardy stock will insure us a hardier class of trees than those grown in the ordinary way. I believe it from the fact that wherever the experiment has been tried, it has worked well. I believe it is common for every tree propagator to have some pet scheme, some hobby to ride. I confess I am mounted on this and intend riding until I am unhorsed by future experiments." Have you been un- horsed, Mr. Tuttle? If so, tell the public how, when and where. We want to hear from you. This is the object of our society. Mr. Plumb said, " This is an interesting theme. The only true way is as often as possible to top work, congeniality of stock and cion always in view." 128 Wiscoxsix State Hoeticultueal Society. Xow this is what we have spent years of time and lost many trees in trying to learn. And yet our success is not sat- isfactory with all kinds we wish to propagate. Still our motto is "Excelsior." We are climbing the mountain, and have a good foundation to start from — Crab roots. And if we find none of the crabs grafted on crab roots are congenial (thanks, Mr. Plumb, for the term), then we will try the common apple seedling, when we find such which has stood our climate, uninjured, twenty or more years. The fact is, it is nonsense to talk about growing trees successful!}', except in very favorable localities, in our section of the state, in the common way, of the following kinds : Fameuse, Golden and Perry Russets, Red Astrachan, Plumb's Cider, etc. If the roots survive, the prostrate trees, almost everywhere broken off at the trunk or at the forks, tell the whole story. "We must have hardier roots, bodies and forks. There it is in few words. I had hoped to meet with you this winter ; but, finan- cially, I am desperately short (this is not original) ; then I am old, having nearly reached man's allotted time. I hope you will have a pleasant and profitable meeting. Mr. Stickney remarked that theoretically Father Wilcox is a little hard on us " flankers," but practically he is illustrating his faith by his works, and has really climbed to the top of the highest mountain within his reach, and on the top thereof he has planted his nursery. He will doubtless extend to all of us who attend the June convention at La Crosse the cordial invitation to "come up higher, that seeing ye may be converted.'" For one, I shall accept such invitation with great pleasure. Mr. Plumb was glad that Brother "Wilcox had at last followed his advice, given these twenty years, and had located on the top of the bluff, a«nd that he was meeting with success, but he thought that under similar circumstances others would be equally success- ful and that it was not safe to pronounce the test a thorough one and sufficient on the experience of one season. Society adjourned, to meet at the call of the President at such times during the joint convention as there might be an oppor- tunity for holding business sessions. Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 129 Thursday, February 3, 7 P. M. A business session was called to bear reports of committees. Fruit ox Exhibition. — The committee appointed to examine and report on the fruit exhibited presented the following : Members of the Slate Horticultural Society : Your committee have endeavored to perform the various duties assigned them, and now present the following as the result of their labors. The display of fruit is very large and fine, much the largest and best ever seen at a winter exhibition in the state. The list here given embraces most of the varieties represented, but among such a large number of plates some were necessarily overlooked. Beside these, there were a large number of seedlings and varieties to be named. Jonathan, Wealthy, Fall Sweet, Alexander, Autumn Straw- berry, Colvert, Flower of Genesee, White Pippin, Peck's Pleas- ant, Fall Spitzenberg, Twenty Ounce, Victuals and Drink, Smoke House, Belle Pippin, Belleilower, Northern Sweet, Fallawater, Paradise, Gray Vandervere, Weaver Sweet, Bailey Sweet, Sweet Pear, Hartford Sweet, Clyde's Beauty, Green Sweet, Hightop Sweet, Piatt's Favorite, Belmont, Vandervere, Mammoth. Pippin, Gillflower, Lawver, May Seek-No-Further, Black, Pomme Grise, Perry Russet, Smith's Cider, Miuckler, Red Romanite, Clark's Orange, Greening, Clark's Winter, Westfield Seek-no-further, Fameuse, Pewaukee, Willow Twig, Green-Everlasting, Wal- bridge, Golden Russet, Drap d'Or, Haas, Plumb's Cider, Northern Spy, Ben Davis, Herfordshire Pearmain, Rawle's Janet, White Winter Pearmain, Stark, Swaar, Gloria Mundi, Wagner, Red Romanite, Red Detroit, Ruddock's Northern Blush, Thomas' Winter Pippin, Schockly, Leitch, Hill's Seedlings, Barrett Rus- set, Limber Twig, Penncck and Winesap. Not to discriminate, your committee would mention the ex- hibits of Messrs. Hunt, Jeffrey, Philips, Kellogg, Olds, Plumb, Peffer and Hirschinger, as large in the number of varieties and fine in quality of fruit. There are on exhibition quite a large number of seedlings and new varieties, some of which seem to possess much merit and may prove valuable acquisitions to our list of fruits. Among these we 9 — Hort. 130 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. would mention ten varieties of apple3 presented by Mr. Samuel Hunt, which were raised by Mr. J. B. Hall, of Evansville. He has an orchard of nearly one thousand bearing trees, all seedlings. The ten varieties exhibited seem to possess much merit; some of them are fine in quality and very showy in appearance. That seedling orchard should be carefully examined, as some of the promising varieties there may prove to be just what we need. Mr. Hunt also exhibited a seedling raised by Mr. Chamberlin, very handsome in form, good size and color, of excellent quality and in very fine condition. Mr. Gr. N. Smith, of Berlin, presented two seedling apples of very promising appearance, one called Euddock's Northern Blush, a seedling of the Transcendant, raised by A. D. Euddock, of Ber- lin. The apple is very showy, small in size, mild, pleasant flavor, and of a fine texture. The tree is said to be nine years old, of vigorous growth and handsome top. It commenced to bear when four years old, has borne five years, and yielded two barrels of fruit the past season. The other is a seedling raised by Mr. Henry Thomas, of Berlin, from seed brought from Indiana twenty years ago. The apple is named Thomas' Winter Pippin. It is above medium size ; very smooth and uniform and evidently a good keeper, said to be in its prime in A.pril and May, and of good quality. Mr. Smith de- scribes the tree as a vigorous grower, with a large spreading top, perfectly sound, and an annual bearer. His account of both veri- ties would indicate that they are worthy of extended trial on ac- count of their promise of being extra hardy, productive and for keeping qualities. Mr. Thomas Crane, of Fort Atkinson, sends a seedling apple of his own raising. The tree is now sixteen years old, and came from seeds of the Spitzenberg. It is perfectly hardy, as hardy to all appearance as a crab, has not a scar or blemiah on it and has never been affected by the winter. It commenced to bear in I87-A and has borne some each season since. The specimens exhibited are very uniform and showy, and the flavor and condition are very good, and indicate long keeping qualities. It seems to be worthy of dissemination and trial in other locations. Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 131 Mr. N. Haight, of Syene, shows nine new varieties in good con- dition and quality. Mr. H. J. Sutherland, of the same place, ex- hibits five new varieties. Among them is a sweet apple, name not known ; the cion was brought from Vermont. The apple is large and uniform, and of most excellent quality, very firm and crisp, and will evidently keep well into the spring. If the quality of the tree is good, it will prove a valuable variety. Mr. S. D. Libby, of Madison, also had on exhibition a large, fair, long keeping and excellent sweet apple, said to have been brought from Vermont fifteen years ago. If the tree is sufficiently hardy to endure our climate this variety will also prove an acqui- sition. Points to be Considered ix Making Awards. Your com- mittee were also instructed to fix upon a scale of points to be considered by judges in making awards at horticultural exhibi- tions, and they have agreed on the following, and place them in their relative order of importance. Fruits. Flowers. 1. Adaptation. 1. Variety. 2. Productiveness. 2. Perfection. 3. Quality, condition, form, size. 3. Arrangement. 4. Condition. The judges to agree among themselves upon some scale or uni- form rule by which to record their decision on each of these points. Premium List for Winter Exhibition. In the further dis- charge of our commission we would recommend the following list of premiums to be offered for the exhibition of fruit at our winter meeting. Best ten varieties winter apples adapted to AVisconsin -|5 00 Second best 3 00 Third best '. 2 00 Best ten varieties winter apples without regard to adaptation. 5 00 Second best 3 00 Third best 2 00 Best five varieties of winter apples adapted to Wisconsin 3 00 Second best 2 00 Third best 1 00 Best five varieties of winter apples for market purposes 3 00 Second best 2 00 Third best 1 00 Best five varieties long keeping winter apples 3 00 Second best 2 00 Third best 1 CO 132 Wisconsin - State Horticultural Society. Best five varieties of fall apples, with written statement of manner of keeping 3 00 Second best 2 00 Third best 1 00 Best plate of Plumb's Cider 1 00 Second best 50 Best plate Haas 1 00 Second best 50 Best plate Fameuse 1 00 ™ Second best 50 Best plate Walbridge 1 00 Second best 50 Best plate "West field Seek-No-Further 1 00 Second best 50 Best plate Talman Sweet 1 00 Second best 50 Best plate Golden Russet 1 00 Second best 50 Best plate Willow Twig 1 00 Second best 50 Best plate Wealthy 1 00 Second best 50 Best plate Pewaukee 1 00 Second best 50 Best plate Utter 1 00 Second best 50 Best plate Ben Davis 1 00 Second best 50 Best display of showy apples, not to exceed ten varieties 3 00 Second best 2 00 Third best 1 00 Best exhibition of new varieties, not to exceed ten 3 00 Second best 2 00 Third best 1 00 Best new variety 2 00 Best single winter variety, seedling 3 00 Second best 2 00 Third best 1 00 Best and greatest display of Crab apples 2 00 Second best 1 00 Best and greatest display of Pears 2 00 Second best 1 00 Best and greatest display of Grapes 5 00 Second best 3 00 Third best 2 00 Best plate, single variety 1 00 Second best 50 Grapes to be in good condition for use, with written statement of manner of keeping. Largest and best display of fruit of all kinds $7 00 Second best 5 00 Third best 3 00 Best show Cranberries, not less than one peck 2 00 Second best 1 00 Best exhibition of Flowers 3 00 Second best 2 00 Third best 1 00 Your committee would also recommend that a premium be offered at our June meeting for Best exhibition of five varieties of long keeping apples. Best plate Willow Twig. Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 133 Best plate Golden Russet. Best plate Walbridge. Best plate Rawle's Janet. Best plate Stark. Best plate Red Romauite. Best plate long keeping Seedling. Which is respectfully submitted. Geo. J. Kellogg, Geo. P. Peffer, B. B. Olds, Committee. The report of the committee was taken into consideration, and. after a brief discussion was accepted and adopted. Premiums Awarded. The committee chosen by the exhibit- ors to make the awards of the premiums offered for fruit on exhi- bition report their decisions as follows : Best display -winter apples, adapted to Wisconsin, Chas. Hirschinger, Baraboo $5 00 Second best, B. B. Olds, Clinton 3 00 Third best, Geo. Jeffrey, Milwaukee 2 00 Best and greatest display winter apples without regard to adaptation, Chas. Hirschinger 5 00 Second best, Geo. P. Peffer, Pewaukee 3 00 Tnird best, B. B. Olds 2 00 Best five varieties, winter, A. J. Philips, "West Salem 3 00 Second best, Chas. Hirschin?er 2 00 Third best, Geo. J. Kellogg, Janesville 1 00 Best five varieties, fall, Chas. Hirschinger 3 00 Second best, Geo. P. Peffer 2 00 Best plate of Plumb's Cider, Geo. P. Peffer 1 00 Second best, Chas. Hirschinger 50 Best plate Haas, Chas. Hirschinger 1 00 Best plate Fameuse, A. J. Philips 1 00 Second best, Chas. Hirschinger 50 Best plate Walbridge, Geo. J. Kellogg 100 Second best, A. J. Philips T 50 Best plate Westfield Seek-No-Further, Levi Chase, Madison 1 00 Second best, J. C. Plumb, Milton 50 Best plate Talman Sweet, Geo. Jeffrey 1 00 Second best, Geo. P. Peffer 50 Best plate Golden Russet, B. B. Olds 1 00 Second best, Chas. Hirschinger 50 Best plate Willow Twig, Geo. J. Kellogg^ 1 00 Second best, B. S. Hoxie, Cookville. .* 50 Best plate Wealthy, A. J. Philips 1 00 Second best, Geo. P. Peffer 50 Best plate Pewaukee, A. J. Philips 1 00 Second best, Chas. Hirschinger 50 Best plate Ulter, J. C. Plumb 1 00 Second best, A. J. Philips 50 Best plate Ben Davis, B. F. Adams, Madison 1 00 Second best, Geo. J. Kellogg 50 134 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Best show of apples, Geo. Jeffrey '6 00 Second best, Chas. Hirschinger 2 00 Third best, A. J. Philips. 1 00 Best display crab apples, J. C. Plumb 2 00 Second best, Cnas. Hirschinger 50 Best display of Pears, Geo. P. Peffer 2 00 Second best, Geo. Jeffrey 1 00 Best display of fiuit of all kinds, Chas. Hirschinger 7 00 Second best, Geo. P. Peffer • 5 00 Third best, Geo. Jeffrey 3 00 Your committee would recommend a premium of $1.00 on the plate of Jonathan, exhibited by B. S. Hoxie, of Cookville. J. S. Stickney, S. Hunt, A. G. TtJTTLE, Committee. By vote of the society it was decided to close the exhibition at 12 M. on Friday. Mr. Philips moved that Peter M. Gideon, of Excelsior, Minne- sota, the originator of the Wealthy, be made an honorary life- member of our society. In the propagation of the Wealthy he had conferred a great benefit on the whole northwest, and it was fitting that some such expression should be given in acknowledg- ment of the benefit we have received. When Mr. Gideon was at our annual meeting two years since, as a delegate from the Min- nesota Horticultural Society, he was elected an honorary annual member, but there was no mention made of it in the li-t of hon- orary members. This was doubtless due to an oversight, but he very much regretted it, for it was due to him on the ground of courtesy, as a delegate, and also as to one who had conferred a special benefit on fruit growers of our State. .The Secretary said he regretted the omission, but it was the re- sult of oversight alone. Mr. Tuttle was in favor of making Mr. Gideon an honorary life member, for he richly deserved it. The Wealthy was not only a blessiDg to fruit growers of Minnesota, but it was equall}' so to us, and to all the northwest. Wherever it has been culti- vated it does well and is continually growing in favor. With the exception of the Duche?s it is the only standard apple that can be raised with anv success in the northern counties of this state. Transactions at the Annual Meeting. 135 The motion to elect Peter M. Gideon honorary life member was carried without a dissenting voice. Keport of Finance Committee. The finance committee, who were appointed to examine the treasurer's report, have per- formed the duty assigned them, and find the same to be correct. J. S. Stickney, J. W. Wood, A. A. Arnold, Committee. Seedling Premium. At the last annual meeting a committee was appointed to examine the records to ascertain what premiums, if any, had been awarded and paid on seedling apples. That committee made their report as follows : Your committee, who were instructed to examine the records in reference to the premiums awarded and paid for seedling ap- ples, have performed the work assigned them, and find that two premiums only have been awarded, where the conditions under which the premiums were offered have been fully complied with. The first of these was awarded to the Clark's Orange, in 1876, and this premium was paid to Mr. Peffer the same year. The second premium was also awarded to Mr. Peffer in the winter of 1878, on Peffer's Winter, as it had then completed the five years' test and exhibition prescribed. This premium of ten dollars has not yet been paid. Bespectfully submitted, F. W. Case, Chairman. The report of the committee was accepted and adopted, and the secretary was instructed to draw an order for the premium due. Society adjourned. Friday, February 4, 7. P. M. The society was called together by the president for the com- pletion of the business of the session. The following committee of observation was chosen: First District — George Jeffrey, of Milwaukee. Second District — J. C. Plumb, of Milton. 136 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Third District — Geo. C. Hill, of Rosendale. Fourth District — G. W. Putnam, of Ash Ridge. Fifth District — H. Floyd, of Berlin. Sixth District— C. W. Potter, of Mauston. Seventh District — D. Huntley, of Appleton. Eighth District — A. B. Balch, of Wayauwega. Ninth District — A. J. Philips, of West Salem. Tenth District — G. W. Perry, of Superior. Eleventh District — A. R. McDonald, of Sheboygan. Twelfth District — J. M. Smith, of Green Bay. The usual appropriation was made to the secretary. Also a vote of thanks was passed to the railroad companies for their courtesy in granting reduced rates to those in attendance. Wm. A. Henry, Professor of Agriculture in the University, T. C. Arthur and J. W. Larkin, editor of the Wisconsin Farmer, were elected honorary annual members of the society. Entry Fee. The subject of charging an entry fee at the competitive exhibitions of the society was discussed at some length, and resulted in the adoption of a motion, declaring that " an entry fee of one dollar shall be charged to those competing for premiums offered at the society exhibitions, and that such entry fee shall constitute the exhibitor an annual member of the society for that year." The society adjourned without day. HORTICULTURAL ■ ADDRESSES, PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS IN THE JOINT CONVENTION, AT THE AIJOTUAL MEETING, . Held at Madison, Feb. 1-4, 1SS1. THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR WOODLANDS. By Franklin B. Houon, U. S. Commissioner of Forestry, Washington, D. C. '. The thoughts we are to present have reference to a subject that more especially concerns the owners of land, and artisans work- ing in wood. We might properly extend the lists by including those who depend upon the land and its increase for their sub- sistence, and those supplied by the artisans above name J, with the structures that they build, and the commodities that they de- liver for our use and comfort, and thus embrace, to greater or less extent, every person in the country — for we can think of no class whatever, among our whole population, both in city and country, that is not interested in the maintenance of an adequate supply of forest products, in some of the varied forms in which they are delivered to commerce, and that would not feel the inconvenience that would ensue from a failure of these supplies. In the common affairs of life, we judge of a man's success, when informed of the amount of his capital, and the excess of his in- come above expenses, and speak of one who is living much be- yond his receipts, as a man who will sooner or later come to grief ; 1 Read by the secretary in the absence of the author. 13S Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. the time of his calamity depending upon the amount of his sur- plus, and the rate of its exhaustion from accidents and use. Now, what is true of an individual in this respect, is true of families, of communities, and of nations ; and the principle is exactly the same, whether the resources be in money, or in commodities that supply our wants: for money is only a measure of values, and the amount of it needed to secure a given object depends, not on the intrinsic worth of the coin we pay, but on the abundance or scarcity, or in other words the market value of what we buy. Applying this rule to the woodlands of the country, let us seriously inquire as to what is the amount of our capital ; what is our income, and what are our expenses? If we find this capital much impaired, and the rate of our expenditure far above our income, would it not be wise in us to consider the important question : " What shall toe do to prevent the impending danger? " We are to notice in the outset, that in any event that may hap- pen, we can never look beyond our own limits for forest supplies, because, with the exception of Canada, no foreign country has ever furnished us with any lumber, excepting some of the finer cabinet woods, or ever will. While importing nothing ourselves from abroad, we have for a century or more been largely supply- ing the wants of other people less provided than ourselves, and are, at the present time, sending many millions of dollars worth annually to countries that have no adequate supplies of their own. It is to be noticed that this foreign demand is steadily increas- ing from year to year, partly from the opening of new marts of commerce, where none existed before, and partly from the increas- ing demand from diminishing supplies, in countries that have formerly provided for their own wants from their own resources, and that have even exported a considerable surplus of their own production, to countries less favored than themselves. We now send lumber of certain kinds to Norwa} r and Sweden, and some even to Russia, while from our Pacific coast, immense quan- tities of our forest products are shipped annually to Australia, Polynesia and South American ports, regions which but a few years ago afforded no market for these products, and some of which had no name on our maps, and no name in the list of nations. The Maintenance of our Woodlands. 139 Turning from this aspect of our foreign commerce in forest pro- ducts, we find within our borders, a steadily growing demand, for uses that no other material can well supply; and although min- eral coal has taken the place of wood to an extent that our wood- lands alone could not long supply, were this coal no longer used, and iron, and stone, and brick are now employed to a much greater extent for structures once commonly made of wood, the general, aggregate consumption of forest products, in their various forms, was never greater than at present, and is steadily increasing from year to year. With this brief statement of expenditures, let us next consider the extent of our capital, and the amount of our income. These data will, enable us to strike the balance of accounts, and to form an estimate of the tendencies, and the probabilities before us. Our forest capital at first consisted of a country covered with a heavy growth of native timber, which, with the exception of the prairies of the northwest, extended over nearly the whole region eastward from the Mississippi river, and at some points to a con- siderable distance beyond. It was, in fact, greater than could be retained in connection with agriculture, and an immense amount was for many years withdrawn annually from existence, with no returns but the price of wood ashes. This cutting simply to de- stroy and to make vacant the land wanted for cultivation has probably cancelled fully half of the native timber of the country, and the land vacated in the cutting of wood for a useful purpose, and in forest fires can scarcely be less, taking the whole country into the estimate, than half of the remainder, that once existed within the limits above mentioned. The loss from fire? alone has in some years amounted to many millions of dollars. It is to be borne in mind, that although woodlands, when re- moved, will, if left undisturbed, renew themselves in time, this opportunity has generally not been given, and when allowed, it has usually been only after the native fertility of the soil, derived mainly from the decay of forest vegetation, had been so far ex- hausted, that it could be tilled with profit no longer. The land has then, sometimes, when abandoned, re-clothed itself with a new growth of such kinds as happened to come in, and often with 140 Wisconsin State Horuicultural Society. the almost worthless kinds. The thickets of poplar, bird-cherry and brambles that spring up on our burned and wasted lands in the north, and the old-field pine and black-jack on the exhausted soil of the south, but poorly represent the majestic timber of the primeval forest and give a false idea when spoken of as " wood- lands," or as a source of timber supply. It is sometimes said, and perhaps truly, that in many sections of the country, as in certain parts of the New England states, and in what were called " oak openings" or "barrens," in some of the western states, there is now as much " woodland" (in a qualified sense), as there was thirty years ago. This may be true as to acreage, but it is exceedingly less in value. This young growth has indeed its value, for its presence is gradually restoring fertility to the soil, and in time it will produce valu- able material for future use, but it must be many years before it can be profitably sawn into lumber, or hewn into timbers, and it would require centuries to produce the enormous dimensions of the timber we have seen disappear. Were this restoration that we see occasionally going on from our neglect, and without our thought or care, controlled and aided with intelligence, the pros pect before us would be much better than at present, and this might be done without great time or expense. I was lately in a piece of woodland which, sevent?en years be- fore, was a thicket of young oak trees, s) smill th\t a wagon could be driven over them anywhere, and so close together that none of them could grow to profitable size until many had died. The owner caused them to be thinned out, and had kept them from injury by cattle, until now, some of these trees are large enough for railroad ties and fence posts, and would sell for more per acre without the land than some of the best adjoining fields that have been kept under cultivation. As a general rule, it costs no more to grow a tree that will be valuable when mature, than it does one of little value. With some attention the first year or two, and protection from injury by stock until it has grown beyond the reach of danger, it will generally take care of itself, and a grove will need no further attention than occasional thinning, as the growth becomes dense, the material thus taken out bsing often worth more than the co3t of this attendance. The Maintenance of our Woodlands. 141 An error in the cultivation of a field crop may be remedied the next year, and in the worst event that can happen, a total failure, we can profit by the experience and may not be ruined by the result. But a crop of timber requires a lifetime and sometimes longer, to come to full maturity, and it becomes a matter of great importance that we make it worth as much as possible, which can only be done by close attention in the beginning, and can scarcely be remedied afterwards. The first attention should therefore be given to the securing of a growth of most profit, and this implies a knowledge of the adaptation of soil and climate to the require- ments of the kinds we would grow, and of the management that these kinds require to insure greatest success. In the northern part of Wisconsin, there are immense forests still remainiug, which in density and dimensions are only sur- passed by those of the Pacific coast. If the owners of these forests could but see their own interest, they would not hasten to destroy these noble supplies of timber, which, if reserved and managed with due intelligence, would yield a much greater revenue than at present, and might be maintained much longer than there is present prospect. They owe their existence in part to the climatic conditions that result from their proximity to the great lakes, and from the rugged nature of the surface, the soil in that region is worth more for the growth of timber than for anything else. It remains to be known as to how far the heavy rainfall that is now annually received in the region bordering the southern shore of Lake Superior is due to the presence of these forests, and whether it might not happen to fail, or change to other regions, were these forests removed. Many times in the earth's history it has been found when too late, that great bodies of woodlands, or groves interspersed among cultivated lands, have operated to cause abundant precipitations of rain, and that these rains have become irregular in their occurrence, and insufficient to maintain fertility to the country when these woodlands had been cut away. Heavy rains are experienced whenever an atmosphere laden with moist- ure is brought over a surface that tends to cool it down below the dew point or degree at which the moisture can be suspended no longer. In a cool climate, but a slight change of temperature 142 W is coxs in State Horticultural Society. may produce this result, so nicely balanced is this point of change, and it has often happened that the air heated by reflection from rocks exposed to the sun in summer, has been found to pass over still dry, instead of yielding, as when these rocks were shaded, an abundant supply of rain. But aside from the climatic probabilities connected with the forest question, as presented in this state, which were very strongly presented in the report made to your legislature by Messrs. Lap- ham, Knapp and Crocker, some fourteen years ago, there are ques- tions of direct and certain profit involved in forest-planting that should arrest the attention of farmers in every section of the country, and lead to measures that would secure these benefits. There can be no doubt but that the yield of farm land would be increased and secured against injuries from drouth and insect rav- ages, if a due proportion of the surface was protected by wood- land growth, and their influence in screening the soil from injuri- ous winds, and in moderating the solar heat, is too obvious to need proof. From the best estimates that have been made from careful observation, it has been shown that fully as much profit can be secured from three-fourths of the surface, where the re- maining fourth part is covered with groves, as from the whole of the land without them. Pasture grounds retain their freshness in such a region, when they would become parched and dry without shelter; streams and rivulets do not dry up in summer where their sources are shaded, and there is no wholesale destruction from insect ravages in a country interspersed with woods. This latter exemption is partly due to the abundance of insectiverous birds that find a home in the groves, and partly to the fact that the more destructive kinds of insects, as for example the grasshoppers, will not breed in, nor will they fly over a wooded country to any noticable extent, although they may have been frequent and dreaded visitors in the same region before the groves were planted. In every section of the country there are tracts of land that cannot be cultivated, or even pastured with profit, and that are lying almost idle and unprofitable upon their owner's hands. It will often be found that such lands are exceedingly well adapted to tree growing, and if they are broken and rocky, the opportunity Forests and Foeesty in Wisconsin. 143 for planting may be even better than on smooth and level ground. Trees of valuable kinds can be grown anywhere in the state, and if properly started, they will nesd no care but protection against fire and cattle, and will, in a few years, yield a profit in wood, that would be greater than is realized from their present use, aside from the incidental benefits that their presence confers. It is, therefore, the part of wisdom to seek by every means within our power to promote the increase of this element of our wealth, as well as to economize the native supplies, remembering that although our present resources may be sufficient to supply our own personal wants, those who are to come after us will have just occasion to accuse our memories of reckle3s improvidence, if we leave them unprovided. FORESTS AND FORESTY IN WISCONSIN. By Hon. John A.. Warder, North Bend, Ohio. 1 To my Good Friends of Wisconsin : Though unable to respond personally to the call of your worthy secretary, a willing answer is rendered by an ardent admirer of your beautiful land, and of its noble sons, of so many among whom it mav be said, " to know them is to love them." This re- sponse is the more promptl}' rendered, because of the common interest which brings us near to each other. Horticulture is the bond ; yes ! and agriculture, too, for it is hard to draw a dividing line between these interests; so that it is altogether right and proper that you should hold joint meetings as you do, of both classes of terra- culturists. This is the more praiseworthy when, as now, it is proposed to include the consideration of the care, planting and preservation of that noble class of vegetables, the trees, which, over large tracts of our land, constituted the prime- val crop of our country's soil, and which are still so valuable and so necessary a crop for the use of the artisan and farmer, and whose supply for the renewal of the forests is now so largely de- pendent upon the efforts of those who are classed as horticultu- ralists, the nurserymen. 1 Read by the Secretary iu the absence of the Author. 144 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Your society was among the first to direct attention to the in- fluence of the forests upon agricultural conditions, and to warn the people against their destruction, and you thus enlisted many on the side of the trees. From the perusal of a very imperfect set of your valuable reports at my disposal, it appears that as early as 1867 you were already considering the ruinous results of clear- ing away the forests, as shown by climatic effects upon the farm and orchard products. At the same meeting of your society you proposed offering premiums on artificial plantations of trees, and suggested also the necessity for protecting, and caring for the nat- ural woodlands; recognizing the importance of that branch of the subject, called the conservation of our forests. At the same session you even ventured to furnish a list of trees to be planted, and, better than all, you appealed to the legislature for the appoint- ment of a commission to report upon the general subject, and, happily, you were successful in your appeal. The commissioners were Messrs. I. A. Lapham, J. G. Knapp, and H. Crocker. Their report, now before me, has been a favorite text-book ever since its receipt from the hands of my good friend Plumb, of Milton. This copy is now sent to a special committee of our own legislature to whom has been assigned the consideration of theForesty-question for Ohio. It will furnish them many strong arguments, and thus 3 t ou may see the wisdom and benefits arising, even now, from your own action so long ago. But you did not stop there, for in 1871, you heard and printed valuable papers by the lamented McAfee, who was a self-taught devotee to the subject, and by TV. Fisher, who, it is hoped, con- tinues to plant trees for their shelter, and who, having wisely be- gun with the cotton-wood, as the pioneer of the prairie plantation, has, before this time, been able to supplement his groves with many other more valuable species, to which the cotton-wood has rendered the much needed shelter and protection as avant-courier and nurse. A similar course has been persistently urged upon the tree planters upon the exposed plains of Kansas and Ne- braska. "Cheap trees" first, such as poplars, box-elder, water- maples, etc., followed by oaks, hickories, ash, hard maples, wild cherry, walnuts, birches, et cetera, as hard-woods, the everlasting Forests and Forestry in Wisconsin. 145 catalpa, in suitable latitudes, and the beautiful native and foreign evergreens, and larches, that were declared, wholly unsuited to the open prairie regions, but which needed only the protection from the winds, that was furnished so rapidly by the pervading cotton- woods that had already naturally belted the plains to the very foot of the Rocky Mountains. In later years, notably in 1878, others entered your field in this labor of love for the trees, with what effect, you must be allowed to judge, butyou could not help learning valuable lessons from the venerable Bryant's communi- cations. One of the most valuable and suggestive papers in your reports is that of Mr. Knapp, on "The vegetable belts of Wisconsin," which he names as follows : The Canadian belt, of the north, and covering nearly one-half of the state, the pine forest region, a land abounding in swamps, the source of the rivers and the natural reserve of timber, to which it should chiefly be devoted, for all time. The Ontario belt comes next, with alternating swamps and sandy ridges with quite similar vegetation, only that on the sands are found forests of the valuable yellow pine {pinus resinosa), and in the marshes comes the larch, which supplants the arbor- vita' and the spruces of the north. The deciduous timbers of the north continue, with the addition of oaks, ash and hickories, with maples and elms, and some beach near Lake Michigan. Next comes the Michigan belt, or that of the " openings." The clay lands produce white oak, maples, elms and hickories. Here the white and yellow birch, hemlock, spruce, fir and cedars of the north do not appear, but red birch is found along the rivers. The sands produce scrub pines (P. Banksiana) and scrubby oaks, while burr-oaks are found in the swales. Grasses abound in the prai- ries, and this is the land where a contest has long existed between the herbs and the trees. The southern or Wisconsin belt, he calls the region of alternate woods and prairies. The vegetation here is in marked contrast with that in the northern belt ; few evergreens remain, and the box-elder and honey locust appear. Mr. Knapp points out that these belts correspond almost exactly with the isothermal and rain 10 — Hort. 146 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. lines of the state. In all this we have food for thought and guides for planting trees in these several regions; what might suc- ceed in one belt would be likely to suffer in another. But, as the writer well suggests, here is study and work for the horticulturist, who may be able to supply the conditions necessary for success, when he attempts bringing the northern sylva to the southern regions ; a problem, his knowledge will enable him very readily to solve, as suggested above in the reference to Mr. Fisher's favorite pioneer cotton-wood. When attempting sylviculture in the open, windy prairie regions, plant the cotton-woods and what- ever will endure the exposure, and follow with other kinds that need shelter. According to the valuable statistical tables of Mr. Dodge, in the United States Agricultural Report for 1875, Wisconsin had but a little more than twenty-nine per cent, of her surface cov- ered by woodland, which is but a moderate proportion when we consider the broad extent of her northern border which Mr. Knapp styles the Canadian belt, and which he describes as being admirably fitted for a timber reserve, and illy adapted to general agriculture. So that here we should look for a constant succes- sion of this important crop in the corning ages. In a tier of counties across the north part of the state, Mr. Dodge reports none with less than sixty per cent, and some more than eighty per cent, of woodland, while in the southern and central portions, some are as low as three, seven, nine, ten and thirteen, and none have more than thirty-nine per cent,, except Crawford county, sixty-six, Richland and Calumet, fifty-eight and Pepin fifty-seven per cent. The former group have not timber land enough for their own protection against the cold and dry winds from the west. In view of these facts it becomes incumbent upon you of Wis- consin to plant timber, especially in the open sections of the state, if only as a means of protection. Every farm may have and should have shelter belts for this purpose, at least on the western and southern borders of each tract of eighty acres, and groves of greater or less area on all waste places and near the farmsteads. In the region of the openings in the Michigan belt, we need have no fear for the natural reproduction of abundant timber Forests and Forestry in Wisconsin. 147 supplies, if simple protection from cattle depredations and fire destruction can be provided ; and with such, protection, the new growth will be better than the old, of such kinds as are natural to the land, but even here, plantations of the more valuable ever- greens should be made, particularly of the native pines, the res- inosa and the strobus, with a goodly share of those valuable foreign conifers, the Scotch Pine, the Norway Spruce and the Alpine Larch. Nor should you neglect the very promising conifers of Colorado, and at once put some of them on trial pretty extensive- ly: Young plants are already offered at your very door for moderate prices. Again let us turn to the great northern extent of your state, your Canadian belt, and consider what is needed in the way of an enlightened Forestry to continue, to perpetuate, and also to im- prove this invaluable timber reserve, instead of allowing it to be destroyed. We need have no mawkish sentimentalism respecting the destruction of a single tree in the forest, qua tree. That may be well enough in the park or beside the old homestead, in regard to some familiar object that has especial associations with our child- hood or youth, our trysting tree, or to some venerable oak or elm that has grown hoary with centuries and has become historical as thesilent witness of great events; but not so in the forest; there the idea of utility alone must be our guide, and we should not disdain the consideration of mercenary calculations. The forest vegetables are a crop, they are grown for profit, just as a field of corn or wheat ; nor should we hesitate to reap the harvest when it is ripe in one case more than in the other. But just here we may well admit our ignorance and acknowledge that we have much to learn. For certain purposes and with certain species, the tree may be most advantageously felled at twenty or thirty years, while an- other species will require from one to two, or even three centuries to reach the condition of its greatest usefulness and value. So in your noble timber reserves, cut your mature trees without any hesitation, but at the same time carefully look after the succes- sion. Take care that the new growth be of valuable species, re- move all others, and where necessary, plant the desirable kinds; 148 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. this is a very simple kind of forest management, but it should be carefully attended to. In felling the mature trees, exercise great care to avoid injury to those of smaller size : be most careful to prevent the ravages of fire, and most rigorously exclude all cattle of every kind from ranging among the young trees. Encourage the multiplication of the truly valuable kinds, and destroy all of the inferior species, except where they may prove useful as nurses, and even then watch them closely lest they trench upon the rights of their superiors. ]STo one should longer doubt the profitable results of timber plantations when they are properly managed. Of this we have had so many examples set before us that it is no longer a ques- tion ; but the timber plantation differs from the grainfield in the greater length of time required, during which there is little or no money return, though the final result is always reliable and large enough to please the most grasping. Forty years ago the bluffs of the Mississippi near Muscatine, Iowa,were bare prairies ; parts were inclosed and cultivated, while other parts were neglected, left to the open common, and even exposed to the tramping of cattle, they have, nevertheless, grown up into woodlands, and such por- tions as are now being cleared yield a net return fully equal to that of the adjoining lands that have been all that time in cultiva- tion. Badly managed plantations may have failed to be re- munerative, so have neglected farms. And it must ever be borne in mind that forestry is with us a new industry, in which we have everything to learn. Let us rejoice that the general gov- ernment is about to provide the land endowment of a school of forestry at St. Paul, Minnesota, where we may all learn the art of growing timber. Mr. Huyck, of Sun Prairie, stated that he had a small grove on his farm, mostly composed of what is called black oak; these trees were gradually dying out, a few every year. The oldest died first and then the younger ones commenced to die also. He did not know the cause, but wanted to keep the land in timber, and would like to have seme one tell him the best trees to replace them with. Mr. Peffer was inclined to believe that the trees suffered from Forests and Forestry in Wisconsin. 149 drouth. Either the ground was very dry, or a thick growth of grass under the trees robbed them of needed moisture. Mr. Scholzka thought the soil did not furnish the needed nour- ishment. As soon as the tap root reached the poor soil beneath, the tree began to die from starvation. Mr. Huyck: I would not have it understood that this trouble is confined to tbe black oak alone; the poplars also are dying out, but the burr oaks standing in the same lot are not affected. If the gentleman says that the poplars which have no tap root die out for the same reason and can explain why the burr oaks which have a tap root escape, then we can believe that this starvation is the cause. Senator M. Anderson : I would like to know if the grove had been used as a pasture ; if so, the earth has been tramped down so as to smother the roots. Mr. Huyck : Yes, the lot was pastured, but this would not seem to be a sufficient cause, for other groves which had not been pastured were affected in the same way. One corner, or a small spot, would be first attacked and then the trouble seemed to ex- tend in all directions. Mr. Scholzka said different kinds of trees do not always thrive in the same kind of soil, and there should be an adaptation of the soil to the wants of the trees. When anything is the matter of the trees it is often necessary to examine the soil before we can find out definitely the cause of the trouble. In such cases we often find that the soil is not suitable for the trees. Mr. J. N. Ames, of Oregon, said he had taken pains to save the young timber growing upon his farm. Many of his neighbors had expressed surprise that he had not cut off the trees and carried them to market, but they were young and growing thriftily and he thought it would be much better to let them stand, and the result is, that he has now about seventy-five acres of the nicest young timber in that section. He had not used these groves for pasture, ani had no trouble with any of the trees dying out, except the poplars, and he regarded these as short-lived any way. He had noticed, both on his own place and through that section, that the black oak seemed to be taking the place of the burr oak, and to 150 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. be the next growth of timber in natural rotation. Farmers are altogether too careless and negligent in the preservation of timber, and in protecting that which is growing up naturally. They will get together and talk over the subject, and reason about it, but there it ends ; when they go home, it seems to be forgotten, at least they do nothing. Any one who has seen the groves on his place can- not but be convinced that it is profitable at least to protect and encourage the natural growth. A great many say that they do not care to provide for the wants of the next generation, but he would like to leave an inheritance to his boys which would be valuable to them, and would lead them to appreciate and be thankful for his care and forethought. Mr. Peffer said that in his section, where nearly all the timber is second growth, he had noticed two seasons when the black oaks had died out much more than usual. Part of the land had been pas- tured and part had not, but the places where the trees suffered the most were on the south and southwest side and where the wind had blown off the natural mulch of forest leaves. In both of these seasons there had been little or no snow; when winter set in the ground had been very dry, aud when it thawed out in the spring was still dry, and the roots had been injured or killed by the frost, so that they could not furnish moisture and nourishment enough for the trees, and they either died out or were killed back in the top, and continued to grow feebly for a year or two and then died out. Where the trees died and others were wanted in their places, he would recommend setting box- elder, maple or white ash. Black walnut is also good. Mr. Babbett, of Beloit, thought it was possible to save these native trees, and that it was better to do so than to fill their places with something else. They are beautiful trees. They have come down to us from former generations, and were the associates of the Indian race. Some think, that with that race they must pass away, but he did not believe this was necessary. Their lives can be prolonged by care. He had quite a number of these native trees in his door yard which he thought a good deal of ; one black oak standing near the house commenced to die at the top some fifteen years ago; he valued the tree highly for shade, and tried Forests and Forestry in Wisconsin. 151 to save it ; be cut back the top, put ashes, leaf mould, and manure under it, and it is alive to-day and growing thrifty as the others. He believed we could save them in this way. Mr. Scholzka : There is no economy in sparing the old trees. When they have become old they are deteriorating in value, and had better be cut down and others put in their places; then you will always have thrifty, rapid-growing trees, that are continually increasing in value. The proper place for groves and forests is on the hills and mountains. Much of this land is unaccessible to the plow or is unfit for cultivation. No other crop will grow there but trees. If these places are left bare, they will become drier and drier, and more worthless every year, and the heavy rainfalls will wash off what little soil there is and leave nothing but rocks, and so the land will be lost for centuries. Covered with trees, it will not only yield an income in the timber, but will give fresh, pure air and health to the country all around and will increase the area and the productiveness of the tillable land. Mr. Wood, of Baraboo, said that coming from a country where the question was not how to preserve our trees, but how to get them out of the way, he could not appreciate the feelings of those who advocated the planting of forests. In all heavily timbered regions the country is slow of settlement. It requires a long time, much hard labor and many privations on the part of the settlers to bring the land into good tillable condition. Where the timber is nearly all cut off, the few patches left have some value, but where the most of it remains, it has no particular value, but is rather an incumbrance. In a prairie country, true, it would be different. Notwithstanding all that is said in regard to raising timber for economical purposes, he did not believe it could be done to any advantage except for firewood. He had seen a great many trees that had been planted and had grown to be of good size, but had never seen one that would make a good saw-log. Nature in the native forests gives straight, smooth and long bodies to the trees, but those that are cultivated are not usually long enough for one decent log. He said the black walnut is easy to raise and grows rapidly. AVhen a boy he gathered nuts from trees in the forest and planted them, and they had grown into fine large trees, which 152 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. have borne nuts for many years. A few years ago he went back to where these trees were standing and gathered nuts and planted them, and now the second generation is bearing. They make fine ornamental and nut bearing trees, but will not make much tim- ber. Parts of them would do for veneering or something of that kind, but are nothing like the old original trees, which would cut four and five saw-logs. The gentleman says plant timber on the poor land, but his experience had been that the best timber grew on the best land. Sandy land will bear pine that can be used for lumber, but the better the land the better the pine. Living as he did in the thickly timbered region, the paradise for farming seemed to him to be the prairie, where the land can be easily tilled, and settled in a short time, and where groves for shelter and for firewood can be easily raised in a few years. Mr. Theobold, of Iowa county, said his experience corresponded with that of Mr. Wood. When he was a small boy, his father commenced on a farm in the thick woods ; there he spent his boy- hood days in clearing up a farm, but when he grew up, he started out for the prairie3 of the west, and never had had occasion to re- gret the change. In those early days, settlers were afraid to locate out on the open prairies, away from wood and water, so he settled in the openings, but believed he would have done better to have located out on the open prairie, as is proved by the experience of those who came later and settled there. These openings have grown up, or are rapidly growing up, with fine oaks and poplars, so that there is now a much larger amount of wood and timber in that section than when the country was first settled. It is surprising how rapidly the young timber has come in and grown, since the fires have been kept from running over the openings and prairies. He believed as firmly as anyone, that we should protect this young timber, both for our own use and for those that come after us. If this was done, he did not believe there would b3 any scarcity of timber. To show the rapidity of its growth when thus protected, he said that he now owned forty acres which thirty-three years ago was heavy timbered land, and he and his neighbors cut it off en- tirely, but it now had at least fifty cords of wood on every acre of it Forests and Forestry in Wisconsin. 153 Mr. Plumb, of Milton, was not surprised that the farmers who had worn themselves out in their younger days in clearing farms in the timber lands did not want to keep at it ; neither do we ex- pect them to feel the importance of this question, yet there is a practical side to it, and one of great importance, both to us and to the future interests of our State. From the examination he had given the subject, he was convinced that within the next ten years there would be a great scarcity of good, first-class timber here. Our native trees are dying out. The best of the timber, espe- cially the pine, is being cut off. A year ago he traveled througli Kewaunee and Door counties, once covered with the densest and most beautiful timber of any portion of the State, and now the greater part of these counties is as bare of trees as the prairies themselves, and still they are cutting down the few trees that are left. This winter he had seen in Southwestern Missouri large yards of "Wisconsin lumber for sale, and it was scattered all through. Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. In Southern Kansas, lumber from our state is selling at two and three dollars a thousand in advance of rates in Southern Wisconsin, and all over the prairies of the west and southwest they are using up the products of our pineries in their buildings, fences, etc. This shows an immense drain on our timber resources, which must sooner or later completely ex- haust our forest?. Many have an idea that Wisconsin is a very large state, and that the northern portion is covered with heavy timber, whereas the heavy timber belt is at the most less than a hundred miles in width, and narrows down as you go east and west. When you get fifty miles north of the center of the state, you leave the thick timber. From there to Lake Superior what there is, is of an inferior character. The northwestern part is but lightly timbered, and while there is more in the northeastern por- tion, it is becoming very thin. The result seems inevitable that our supply of first class timber must be exhausted, and that too at no distant day, and, if we are to have enough to supply our own demands, we must resort to planting. In regard to the black oaks, he believed that they were bound to go. Twenty-five years ago the capitol park was thickly cov- 154 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. ered with the native trees of the forest, a large portion of them, these black oaks. Most of these trees have passed away, and to-day nine-tenths of the trees here are those that have been planted here. It seemed to him that the cause was starvation. The blowing off' of the leaves from the soil, packing of the earth about the roots by tramping, and the thickening of the turf under the trees had exhausted the moisture and nourishment necessary to the healthy growth of the trees, and they are gradually starved out. Cutting off the top, mulching and feeding may save them for a time, but the better way is to replant. Save all the burr oaks, but where the black oaks die, fill in with other trees. He would recommend for this purpose our native white ash ; it trans- plants easily, grows rapidly, and is one of our most useful and valuable trees. Mr. H. Bobbins, of PlatteviLe, said that on the prairies of Southern Wisconsin, and where we have cut off our timber, we want to plant trees for wind-brakes and for timber, and the ques- tion is, what shall we plant; what kinds will be the most profit- able, and what'will grow the fastest. He bad tried various kinds, among others the soft maple, but he did not like it altogether; he would not recommend it for others to plant, though it made a good wind-brake. He had imported some 60,000 evergreens from Scot- land, of various kinds. Of these the one he would select as the most valuable was the European Larch. His trees when set, ten years ago, were small, but he could cut trees today that would make two and three fence posts, not all as large as our posts generally, but yet large enough for a wire fence. Another variety is what is called in Scotland the Weymouth Pine. Some of these trees are now twenty and thirty feet high, and have been set less than ten years Some were set out in nursery rows, quite closely to- gether, and left unthinned. and the rows are now fifteen and. twenty feet high and are very thick and compact, making the best of wind-breakers; better than a tight fence. Scattered through this evergreen forest he set out some two hundred apple trees, and had let them stand without any attention, taking care of themselves. Some of them he had not seen for two or three years until this last fall, and was surprised to find many of the Forests and Forestry in Wisconsin. 155 trees loaded with apples. Trees in his regular orchard, where ex- posed to sun and wind, were affected more or less with blight and scald, but not a leaf was touched where standing among the evergreens. Mr. George A. Austin, of Neillsville, wanted to defend the lumbermen from some of the charges made against them in regard to the needless slaughtering of the pine ; wantonly cutting it to destroy it. It is true that in the thick timber much is destroyed in cutting and getting out the large trees ; this is unavoidable. Much of the timber that is cut is past its prime, and if left stand- ing longer would depreciate in value, and then in many instances they are compelled to cut it to save it. Where fires have run through the woods, the trees would in a year or two become wormeaten and worthless, if not cut and worked up at once. Es- timates made by the best judges in the pine districts place the amount of timber destroyed by fire running through the woods, -as much greater than what has been cut and run into the market. In regard to the generally received opinion that forests exert a beneficial influence by increasing theyield of the cereals, especially wheat, he would like to call attention to the fact that in the counties west of them where you can ride all day and not see a forest and hardly a forest tree, they raise large crops of wheat, while in their section where you are hardly ever a stone's throw from heavy timber, wheat-culture is a failure. Mr. W. W. Field said he had not been a close observer in re- gard to this subject, but he was satisfied, from what he had seen, that there was more timber in Southern Wisconsin to-day than there was thirty years ago, and that, as you may say, not an acre of it had been planted. There was no doubt but that in the northern portion of the state, the timber was being cut faster than it was growing, but if the fires are kept out, in thirty years, every acre of this land will be covered with a beautiful growth of timber again, and, if the fires are not to be kept out, it will be of no use to set it out to timber. . As to the effect of timber on the growth of cereals he would say that the past season he had seen thous- ands of acres of wheat and other grain, the best he had ever seen anywhere, growing where there was not a stick of timber in sight. 156 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. If anybody was interested in growing timber, it should be the great prairie states; he did not believe that Wisconsin ever need be concerned about this question. TIMBER CULTURE. By J. S. Stickney, Wauwatosa. With lumber for all mechauical uses so abundant and so cheap, we are perhaps justified in using sixty to one hundred thousand feet for buildings, and half or quite as much more for fences on a quarter section farm. Almost the only motive for economy in the use of fuel is to save the labor of preparing it. Seventy to eighty thousand feet of lumber lay under each mile of our rail- roads to be renewed every ten or twelve years. Hundreds of mills are diligently gathering in the choicest oak, shaping it into staves and hurrying it away to distant markets. Much of this oak is the accumulation of three or four hundred years, yet no one counts the little rings that record its age, or stops for a moment to consider where the next four hundred years' supply is coming from. Even the young oaks and hickory are not spared, but cut down in their infancy, and by hundreds of car loads are sent after the staves. Thousands of cords of poplar are ground into pulp, and are shipped to paper and book making New England. A friction match is a little thing, yet one match factory in our state uses annually iu its business about four million fest of lumber. In three months more I shall have completed the destruction of one hundred and ten acres of timber ; many of the oaks three hundred years old; and what are the results? Staves enough to furnish a medium sized cooper shop perhaps four months. Ties for perhaps a mile of railroad. Coarse wood to burn two moder- ate kilns of brick, and wood of a better quality sufficient for the wants of perhaps a hundred farmers for a single year: only this and for this brief time ! yet, for the next three hundred years rail- roads must be kept in repair, bricks must be made, dwellings must be warmed and food cooked. Thus the ball rolls on, and we freely use the good things of to-day troubling ourselves with very little thought of the future. Timber Culture. 157 I am not greatly disturbed by all this, nor do I see in the near future any reason to apprehend suffering for the want of fuel, or any great inconvenience from scarcity of building material. While considering this wholesale consumption in our large cen- ters and most accessible sources of supply, we must remember that in most of the states there are vast tracts of timber yet un- touched because more or less remote from present lines of trans- portation, yet ail accessible when increasing demand shall require it. Also, that on our prairies spontaneous timber growth springs up as soon as the annual fires are suppressed, needing but slight protection and moderate time to produce a large timber crop. Thomas Meehan, in a recent report as Botanist to the Pennsylva- nia State Board of Agriculture, says : "After two months spent in examining the forests of Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Caro- lina and Tennessee, the result of my investigation is, the knowl- edge that there is very much more timber in the country than people generally believe; also that when there shall be a real scarcity of lumber, so as to affect the market price seriously, it will pay to plant timber, and forests so planted will come into use when properly cared for in much less time than people have been led to believe. In going through the Shenandoah Valley, of Virginia, we were furnished proof entirely satisfactory that when the white man settled in that valley it was wholly clear of timber, and that most of the immense quantity growing there now has grown in the past one or two hundred years. In like manner the probability is that in all the large valleys of Pennsylvania there was no wood at the early settlement of the state. We have cut away a great deal, but then, we have gained some and the fact is worth remembering." Fifty years ago New England was exercised with the same fear of a timber scarcity that troubles us now. To-day hundreds of her hill farms are gradually passing back from grazing and tillage to wito and neglected woodlands, and scarcity of timber is hardly thought of. We very much enjoy our present abundance and our reckless extravagance, yet we can, when necessity compels it, become models of economy and frugality. In proof of this, go to-day to western Minnesota and you will find the people warming 158 Wiscoxsm State Horticultural Society. their toes and cracking their jokes around stoves invented and manufactured by the " universal Yankee " expressly to burn little hard pressed cubes of hay or straw. Move on to Manitoba and in latitude fifty degrees north you will see the Russian emi- grants in colonies, going boldly out onto the vast plains, asking for very little fuel besides the hay and straw they can grow, and burning the same in rude structures, half stove, half oven, made of sun dried bricks. With these simple fixtures all their food is cooked and all needed warmth obtained. If further illustra- tion is needed, it is furnished by the Icelander with his house of snow and lamp of seal oil. From our standpoint this other extreme is not particularly in- viting, therefore, while there is no immediate cause for alarm, it is very proper that we should at once consider ways and means of keeping a reasonable supply of fuel and building material within our reach. To dwellers in and immediately around the large commercial centers, those things wiU always be accessible, per- haps at rather large prices, yet land in such localities will also command a large price or a large rental, so that it would hardly pay to grow timber. Take for instance, the land I am now clear- ing six miles from Milwaukee ; it has been held by one owner for thirty-five years idle, except for the growth of its wood. There has been no time in the last twenty years when the wood on an average acre would not have sold for seventy-five dollars, and the same acre put under good tillage would have given a net income of five dollars per year. The seventy-five dollars put at six per cent interest would have given four and a half dollars, thus mak- ing the annual net income nine and a half dollars per acre ; this multiplied by 110, shows conclusively that to that owner it was not a paying investment. The annual growth of at least twenty acres is needed to supply an average family with fuel ; twenty acres of such land gives us one hundred and ninety dollars annually with which to buy fuel. The conclusion is, that it will not pay to use such land for timber growing. Of course there are other considerations besides dollars and cents that would lead us to plant and cultivate more or less timber in all localities. Timber Culture. 159 Let us next consider an average farming community, with its little villages and hamlets, all in what is usually termed a timber country. The original forest is perhaps three-fourths gone, and the question of future supply frequently suggests itself to the thoughtful land owner. Here timber culture in belts or solid fields will doubtless pay, but it is rather a long-winded invest- ment, with the pay all on the far end, while we are an impulsive people, very energetic and active, but anxious to see the dollar we work for very soon after our work is done; so the timber planting on any extended scale is likely to move a little slow. In many instances, the timber that remains has attained its largest value, and is annually losing rather than gaining, and. it seems just as important and just as good management to harvest such a crop as a well matured crop of hay or grain, but if it is to be harvested speedily, speedy and earnest measures must betaken for a new supply. In this direction, much may frequently be done by simply protecting what is already growing. On almost every farm there are neglected corners, parts of a remote pasture, knolls too barren or ravines too broken for cultivation, on which we may find thickets, groups or scattered plants of all our leading timber trees. Mingled with them are plum and hazel bush and brambles. Kemove the worthless growth ; cut out the weak and poor where too thick; plant a few trees when too thin. If small, exclude farm stock, but if above the reach of cattle, use the land for pasture, and in ten, fifteen or twenty years you, or those com- ing after you, will have something valuable for immediate use, or that will go on for ten or twenty years more at a greatly in- j creased rate of gain. The first few years of young timber growth seems small and slow, but as the rootlets reach out into broader feeding grounds, and the annual rings gain a larger circumference, the rate of in- crease is something like that of the rolling snowball. Nor is the early growth so very small. Six years ago I took a little bundle of fifteen Scotch Pine, weighing altogether perhaps ten pounds, and planted them in pasture sod on a steep, gravelly knoll, almost worthless for any other purpose. The planting cost, perhaps, two hours' labor ; tbey have been spaded around just once since, cost- 160 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. ing another two hours' labor; today the lot average ten feet high and three inches in diameter. I was recently crossing a very poor, sandy farm ; so poor that in places the sand drifted. Across this farm ran a belt of oaks twenty to thirty feet in breadth, which had sprung up in the line of an old fence. Choppers were at work cutting these into fire-wood, and the yield did not vary much from a cord on every two rods in length of the belt. Count- ing the grains showed the time of production to be about twenty- five years ; certainly not a bad crop for such land. Where fences have remained, for a long time undisturbed, we frequently see lines of young trees, ten or twenty feet high. Very energetic and tidy farmers count these as blemishes ; evidence of slipshod farming. On their farms the fences are frequently moved, and the young trees grubbed out. Yet it is possible that such tree lines, in a thirty years' run, might compare favorably with the average value of other crops, and if such lines are on the west or north side of the farm, where shelter is needed, it is more than possible that we might profitably add to them by planting and culture, until they grow into close and thrifty timber belts from ten to twenty rods in breadth. " We cannot spare the land," is a common excuse for not plant- ing. If every acre of the farm is highly cultivated and made to produce up to its full capacity, then this excuse may be valid, but if only the half of this be true, then we may thoughtfully con- sider the policy of fewer acres and letter culture, thus releasing a part from annual cropping, and placing it under tree growth, which may, with very little labor, at some future time, yield a rich and abundant harvest. To the dweller on the broad, open prairie, there can be no two sides to this timber question. Abundant and cheap lands ; scarce and dear fuel and lumber ; burning straw and hay, and even the golden corn, all of which could be more profitably utilized ; haul- ing his scant supply of lumber twenty or forty miles ; parched and dried by summer winds, and pelted by winter storms, that strike him with the accumulated force of five hundred miles' un- broken sweep ; if alive to his best interests, he will hasten to plant broad acres with trees, and to place dense timber belts between his buildings and the prevailing winds. Timber Growing. 161 This work is most surely and rapidly begun with the native cottonwood, whose young seedlings are found by millions in the valleys of most large streams. Seedlings of one season's growth are gathered at twenty-five to fifty cents per thousand, and han- dled and planted with reasonable care, ninety-five per cent, will grow. With three seasons of good culture, they will make an inch diameter, and six to seven feet height. After this they need little attention, except to thin them out as they increase in size, and for this the clippings more than pay — they should be planted on ground that has been cultivated one or more years. Four feet each way is a suitable distance to plant these and all other de- ciduous trees, for timber growth ; wider planting may give stronger growth, but it will be branchy and straggling, a poor foundation for the tall, straight trees we aim to grow. The first cost of close planting is a little more, but it is paid for ten-fold by what is from time to time thinned out ; on a ten or twenty acre plantation, after five years, such thinning will nearly or quite furnish the year's fuel, and after six or eight years, light poles for various useful purposes can be freely used. At five years, the shelter from prevailing winds is quite apparent, and from ten years onward becomes almost invaluable. Having a good beginning of Cottonwood, Black Walnut, White and Green Ash, Butternut, Black Cherry, Oaks in variety, Box Elder, Soft Maple and Elm are all good trees to plant, and, with the exception of the oaks, are all easily started, and free growers. All should be started from seeds or one year old plants, and should have thorough cultivation until such time as they so shade and occupy the ground as to keep down other vegetation. Poplars and Willow may also find a placej when something bet- ter is for the time being beyond our control. These grow readily from cuttings, as does also the Cottonwood. If to be had of small size, and at moderate prices, evergreens must also have a place, especially about our buildings. Of these, Korway Spruce, White Pine and Scotch Pine, as strong growers, will be most successful. Siberian and American Arbor Vitas and Eed Cedar are all valuable for small, single specimens, and for nicely sheared hedges. 11 — Hort. 162 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. In essays and sermons it is customary to set a high standard and write and speak of things as they should be, whether in gen- eral practice we might hope to reach the full standard or not, but such treatment of this subject would fill a volume, and would probably do less good than this brief mention of facts as they exist. As a rule men will do promptly and cheerfully only those things which seem most sure to pay. Applying this to our sub- ject, we do not hesitate to say that on all prairie farms, it will richly pay to plant trees, and to plant so abundantly that there may be a full supply of fuel at an early day, and in the future a large share of what may be needed for buildings and fences. On lands with more or less timber now growing, it will certainly pay to plant enough to keep that supply good. On any broken or waste land not well adapted to tillage, may it not be a good investment to plant with the slower growing but more valuable trees, that shall go on with very little cost or trouble to us, laying safely aside an accumulating value that may come in thirty or forty years hence as a very acceptable dividend or life insurance fund to ourselves or our children ? In comfort gained and in gratification cf our love of the beauti- ful, it will surely pay to plant these living and improving wind barriers in all exposed positions, and to plant well arranged groups and single trees about our homes, and lines of trees along our highways to afford grateful shade, and beautify the landscape. At the request of the Wisconsin* State Horticultural Society I have prepared lists of the varieties best adapted for these purposes, which I will present here : For timber of rapid growth and easy culture. (Valuable in order named.) Black Walnut. White Ash. Black Cherry. Butternut. European Larch. Soft Maple. White Elm. Box Elder. Cotton Wood. White Willow. In commencing to plant on a prairie farm, reverse the order of this list For timber of -fifty to one hundred years' growth. White Oak. Burr Oak. Red Oak. Hickory. For street trees. (Valuable in order named.) White Elm. Hard Maple. Basswood (Linden.) White Asb. Green Ash. Box Elder. Soft Maple. Timber Growing. 163 For lawn planting. (Valuable in order named.) Cut-leaf Weeping Birch. Norway Maple. Linden. Green Ash. Horse Chestnut. American Mountain Ash. European Mountain Ash. European Larch. European Alder. Weeping Poplar. Weeping Mountain Ash. Weeping Golden Bark Ash. Kilmarnock Weeping Willow. At the conclusion of his paper Mr. Stickney said in further ex- planation of the list and the subject that, in the first list tbe varieties for winter planting are given in the order in which I would rank them as to their value when grown, but in planting. I would reverse the order completely ; commencing with the White Willow and Cottonwoods, leaving the willow out entirely, if I could have the Cottonwood, simply because the Cottonwood is so very hardy, takes root so readily and grows so rapidly that it soon furnishes a shelter for the others and gives some return in timber and fuel sooner than any of the others, though not of very good quality. I am aware that there are many trees recommended for ornamental purposes not mentioned here. I have only given the most valuable for use. The Locust is not mentioned because in the southern and central parts of the state it has proved almost worthless on account of the depredations of the borer. It is quite valuable for some timber purposes. The common Yellow Locust of our country I regard as nearly equal to the Red Cedar for fence posts, and it would be almost invaluable for this and other purposes were it not for the injury done to it by these borers. As a rule, all that are planted are either destroyed or so much injured as to be useless. It has other disagreeable qualities; as its thorny character, its propensity to spread all over the ground ; shoots will keep springing up from the roots all around where the tree stood for years after it is cut down. For these reasons it has been thrown out of all lists of trees for general planting. The variety called the Black Locust, with a smooth, dark colored bark, is a much hardier tree, but its timber has not the enduring qualities of the other, at least not to any such degree. I agree with Mr. Wood in what he said yesterday about the advisability of cutting timber when it has reached its growth. It is as important to harvest it when it has reached perfect maturity as it is to harvest grain when it is ripe. The timber has 164 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. then attained to its best estate, and, if left standing longer, it will depreciate in value. I gave the age of some of the oaks in this piece of timber land I am clearing as three hundred years, but I counted the rings in tree after tree there that were over four hun- dred years old ; I gave the smaller number so as to be within the limits of possibility of believing. There is little doubt but that those trees, in an equally favorable market, would have brought more and been more valuable one hundred years ago than to-day. I think they have been diminishing in real value for that length of time. Some of the finest looking trees, nearly three feet through at the butt, had decayed and showed brackish places in them near the top where large limbs had died or been broken off, which spoiled them for timber purposes. When timber has reached maturity, it is true economy to cut it and get the greatest value possible for it; but we must not lose sight of the fact that it takes a long time to replace it. We are not taking as energetic measures as we should to renew our forests, but with the urgent necessity there will come a remedy. In Germany and other European countries the farmers are re- quired by law to cultivate timber; such a portion of the soil is to be set out with trees, and a certain amount is required to be cut and replaced each year. Does anyone doubt but that when the pressure comes on us, as it came upon them, when fuel and lumber become so scarce as to make it an object, this intelligent, wide-awake and thoroughly alive people will do what is needed and enact laws that will secure what is needed? This time may be in the remote future, and I am led to believe it is, from the fact that we have thousands of acres of young native timber that is growing up and also thousands of acres of heavy timber lands that are not now accessible ; but when the demand sharpens, new lines of transportation will be opened to them, and they will be brought to market, but when the time does come, we shall not be so stupid as to sit idly by and freeze to death. There is one statement made by Mr. Wood that I do not agree with, and I wish to correct, viz.: "That it is not possible, in his opinion, to raise good timber from planted trees." This cannot be true. If Mr. Wood will count the rings in those large trees he Timber Growing. 165 is now cutting he will find it has taken one and even two hundred years to make them what they are. Then if he will go into any of the thick groves of young timber that have sprung up wild, and have grown to be twenty feet or more in height, he will find that the thickness of the setting has so crowded up the growth of tho3e trees as to give them the straight, trim and handsome little bodies that will make, in a hundred years or so, large, straight trunks like those of the trees he is now cutting down. What is needed is simply to follow nature, and where we want a growth of forty feet or more, set the trees close together, say four feet apart, so that the growth developed by nature and cultivation will crowd the trees up in straight rows and bodies, and not allow them to branch out in every direction. This was the mistake that was made in tree planting in many parts of the country at first. They thought better to give plenty of room and to give the de- sired shape by pruning, but they soon found that the pruning was expensive and that they could not secure a straight, upward growth in this way, and were driven to close setting to accomplish this. J. W. Wood — I agree with President Fratt, that we should not be held responsible for the ideas we advance here, but I think that if any remarks I may have made called out this animated discussion from friend Stickney they must have been well said. The timber in which I am located is not the Burr Oak, or the White or Black Oak of the clay ridges, but the heavy timber of the Baraboo Valley, tall, straight, thrifty Maples, Elms and Oaks. In clearing off my building site, I left quite a number of these Maples, as ornaments for the dooryard and around the house. They were nice, thrifty trees, in good condition. They were beautiful trees and I was very glad to have them there, but they soon commenced to die in the top, the limbs died away and the bodies commenced to decay, and I have been compelled every year to cut down some of them because they were unsafe in the yard. This native timber will not bear civilization. If you leave patches in the field for groves or for timber purposes, when the supports around are cut away the trees will commence to blow down, rot and die out. The timber has got its age, it is 166 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. ripe, and the exposure hastens its decay. Were I to prepare for ornamenting a building site again, I would cut off all the native wild growth and then go to the woods and get young trees to set out around the house to grow up with top and form suited to the conditions in which they are placed. J. C. Ford, of Madison — I would like to ask Mr. Stickney why he does not include the Black Walnut in his list of trees to be planted on the line of roads and farms. He has it in the first list of rapidly growing trees. It is certainly a very fine orna- mental tree, bears nuts abundantly, and, when grown, makes valuable lumber. The branches are sturdy, and the tree is not apt to be broken down by the winds, and I should think it would be a valuable tree to set along the line of the streets in the country. Mr. Stickney — The gentleman will notice that, by reversing the list as I recommend in planting, the Black Walnut comes last. This was done mainly because it is not the most rapid growing of those trees. All he says about the quality of the tree is true, but by observing it carefully you will discover vari- ous little objectionable things in it as a street tree. It would do better for this purpose in the country than in the city or village. Mr. Ford — It is mainly with reference to country planting that I speak. Until within a few years I had no idea that it would grow in the open country. My brother has a few young trees along the street in this city. They are about twenty years old, ten or twelve inches in diameter, perhaps, and bear two or three bushels of nuts apiece. They are certainly a very hand- some tree in the grounds. Mr. Stickney — I have had them on my grounds for thirty-two years, and now have the third generation in bearing. If you will notice a Black Walnut standing singly, you will observe that the vegetation under it is very scant compared with that under the Linden or almost any other tree. No crop will grow under it, or very near it, with the same thrift as under other trees. Whether this is caused by the drip of the tree, or because the tree is such a gross feeder, exhausting the soil, remains a question. It leaves out a little late in the spring, which is rather against it as Timber Growing. 167 a street tree. It is also frequently partially or entirely stripped of its foliage in midsummer by certain caterpillars which may be often seen gathered in rather uninviting masses on the body of the trees, going through the moulting process. The drip of the tree is apt to disfigure the fences and vegetation or ground under it. It is apt to shed its foliage freely, and is Dot a real cleanly, nice, inviting tree for shade or ornament. It grows rapidly, and its timber qualities are excellent; but I do not think we can recommend it generally as a street tree in the city or village. In the country, where there are three or four rods of unoccupied land along the road, it may be well to plant it. Mr. Ames — It is said that orchard trees standing near the Black Walnut do not bear. Mr. Ford — It might be well to find out if this is a fact. I know that fruit trees standing near the trees I have spoken of bear abundantly. Mr. Stickney — If it has this effect at all, I should attribute it to its being a gross feeder. President Smith — In father's orchard, in New Jersey, Black Walnut trees stood among the apple trees, and I saw no differ- ence in their bearing on this account. Dr. P. R. Hoy — The main reason why vegetation does not thrive under these trees is the poisonous character of the drip. The juice of the leaf is poisonous, and a decoction made of it and applied to a horse with a sponge will keep off flies, and i3 offen- sive to almost all insects. Mr. Plumb — In relation to prolonging the life of our native forest trees, I would say that some time ago I saw a Maple or- chard of old trees, as old as any in the country, standing in the cleared land in the northern part of Waupaca county. It was owned by a German farmer. On clearing off the timber around, he had cut away about one-third of the tops of the maple trees he wanted to save, and he continued to cut away a portion of the tops for a number of years. In this way he had saved the trees. I have no doubt the same treatment would work favorably with other forest trees. A short time since I was in De Pere, and the manager of the 16S Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. largest wooden-ware manufactory in the state made inquiries in regard to the cost and the best manner of raising hoop-poles. He said the company had one hundred and sixty acres they were in- tending to use for this purpose. On being informed as to the probable cost, he said, " We buy them for less than that now, but it is not a question of present cost at all, but of supply." If used at the present rate the supply would soon be exhausted, and he feared that, too, before they could raise them. Those engaged in other branches of manufactures fear a like result with regard to other kinds of timber. Mr. Kellogg, Janesville — Yankee ingenuity will find a way of supplying the deficiency when the emergency comes, but the great trouble is with our pine. That is being cut off very rapidly, and we cannot grow pines for lumber purposes. Unless something is done, our lumber supply will soon be exhausted. We have fire- wood enough ; more than thirty years ago, and in the southern part of the state the supply is increasing continually. I think the nut-bearing trees are especially adapted to street and line trees. The Hickory is the best nut, and bears abundantly, but it is hard to transplant and propagate. I regard the Butternut as better than the Black "Walnut. It grows rapidly; it is easily transplanted, bears when quite young, and abundantly, and is a handsome shade tree. Geo. A. Austin, Neillsville — I do not see what can be done to protect the pine forests. The legislature cannot stop the cut- ting, and if they prevent other use being made of the land when the pine is cut off, it will not reproduce pine. In some places, hard wood comes in after the pine ; if nothing else, it grows up to poplar. In Clark county, maple takes the place of the pine. A. G. Tuttle — The same thing is true in Michigan. Where the pine is cut off, other timber 'comes in. In many of the pine forests in our state there is an abundance of small pines coming in. In some places I have seen them very thick from one to two feet high, and more than enough to replace the old trees, and stock the country, if they could be preserved. The way the pine is being used up, especially in such winters as this, it will soon be gone ; still, I believe that more is being destroyed by the fire than by the axe. The Apple Crop and its Management. 169 THE APPLE CEOP AND ITS MANAGEMENT. By J. C. Plumb, Milton. The apple crop of 1880 will not be scon forgotten by the fruit growers of the west. In many sections of southern "Wisconsin, tens of thousands of good fall apples could have been bought, delivered at ten cents a bushel. At this price they were fed to stock, left to decay or a more wasteful use of feediog the cider barrel and fostering the appetite for a stronger beverage. Even this resource failed, as barrels could not be had for either fruit or cider, and so from cellar to garret piles of apples in all stages of decomposition were to be seen in many a farm house ; the barn floor was used as a temporary storage until crowded out by the corn pile. All sorts of temporary expedients were resorted to, to carry the bountiful supply over to a better market and winter use. For want of the proper storage and fixtures, this unusual crop was half of it lost to the grower by actual decay or a bottomless market. Good winter varieties were allowed to hang on the trees until over-ripe and were put into the market in competition with short lived sorts for cooking apples. On the 28th day of October last I saw beautiful Northern Spy on sale in this city, at the store of Mr. Huntley at twenty-five cents per bushel retail, while to-day no better are sold at one dollar per bushel. Utters, Plumb's Cider and Fameuse were ranked only as fall apples and sold at current rates. Unfortunately the larger part of our bearing trees are not long keepers and in seasons like the past, when all ripened fifteen to thirty days before their usual time, the overplus was the more apparent. The result was an over supplied market, prices unprecedentedly low, and a large portion of the crop as good as wasted, in hundred of cases. Enough wasted to have given a a winter supply to ten thousand families now destitute. The idea has largely prevailed that Wisconsin was not, nor could ever be, an apple growing region. But this illusion is now dispelled. We have profited by the lessons of the past, and now plant and grow varieties found equal to the vicissitudes of our climate, and planters are calling for good keeping apples. Nor is 170 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. orchard planting on the decline, but increases yearly, and it is a fact well known by some of our tree growers, that there are not enough trees of this class of winter apples growing in the state to supply the ordinary demand. In a paper on this subject two years ago, published in our volume IX, I endeavored to show that the export trade of apples fresh and dried was assuming grand proportion. In 1877, over three millions worth were sold, and probably more than double that the last year. I then used these words : " But any possible figures on foreign demand are feeble to express the amount of fruit consumed in American households." This home demand is increasing vastly beyond the ratio of increase of population, and yet do we not waste enormous quantities of fruit in years of abundance ? A full crop finds us with no adequate facilities or preparation for its most economic disposal. This condition of things meets us every year of abun- dance, and it is time the fruit growers of the west were prepared to save the entire crop for its best uses, and the main object of this paper is to show how to utilize the apple. The usual processes of picking, handling, storing, drying, can- ning, keeping and marketing the apple are too well known to require words here; suffice to say that as ordinarily practiced they fail of giving best return to the grower. Apples, designed for any but immediate use, should be hand-picked and handled as care- fully as if each were an egg. Both their beauty and keeping quality depend largely upon this care. Decay commences at once with the bruised portion, and no after care can remedy the evil. To facilitate hand-picking, the trees should branch low, and be kept somewhat open by judicious summer pruning; thinning the crop thereby will generally give more value to the fruit. A convenient step-ladder should be ready, with plenty of small hand- baskets, and a letter S wire for each to hang to a limb or a belt at the waist of the picker. Another useful tool is a wire hook fast- ened to the end of a light pole, six feet long, to bring limbs within reach of the picker. The best form of step-ladder we have used, is one made of a stout twelve foot pole, split at butt, and rungs or strips put in sixteen to twenty inches apart, in the form of a The Apple Crop and its Management. 171 ladder with a wide base, bat with the top end firmly bound to- gether, forming a point to shove up into the tree for support. It is well with early apples to go over the tree two or more times and remove the finer and early specimens first ; the lesser and later growth will increase in size rapidly after this thinning out. The fruit should be emptied from the picker on the ground or assorting tables, and carefully assorted at once, in the orchard. No second sorting- should be allowed. Those for market or stor- ing should be put at once into barrels or cases, and be got into some cool place, where they can remain with least change of tem- perature possible. No "sweating" is needed; indeed there is no such thing. Evaporation will not improve the apple, but rather injure it, and condensation of moisture, called sweating, shows a change of temperature not conducive to the keeping of the fruit. If the store room be of an even, low temperature of 15° or less, the fruit will require very little ventilation. Storage. An ordinary house cellar, if plastered over head and well ventilated, will do very well for winter storage in a small way; but for commercial purposes we require storage room which, from September 1st until the next June, will hold a temperature of 45° or less, down to 30°. This may be accomplished at con- siderable expense by the use of ice. The fruit dealers of: northern New York are now using houses of 10,000 to 20,000 barrel capac- ity, which are designed to preserve apples and pears for the eastern and southern cities, as well as for foreign exportation. The proportionate expense of a house of one hundred barrel capacity would be much greater, and but few even of our city dealers will venture the expense, unless in connection with a meat and poul- try business. A comparatively inexpensive fruit house may be constructed by any farmer, which will enable him to keep all varieties of fall and winter fruit until spring. My plan is as follows : Excavate as for a barn cellar, four feet deep and of the desired size to get the capacity wanted ; build good stone or concrete walls eight feet high and one foot thick, and use the earth taken from the excavation to bank up to the top of the wall on three sides. The north end to be protected by a* lean-to shed, and have here the 172 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. one entrance door. Use eight or ten inch joists, which should be set down level with the wall, ceil overhead with good seasoned, hard pine fencing, and fill in with saw dust or chaff, well packed, and floor over to suit convenience. Every ten feet of extension should have a foot square ventilator, which should communicate with an opening in the ridge of the building. The roof and up- per structure may be made to suit the further use which may be required of the same, provided it affords ventilation at all times, and keeps off the rain and snow. This basement or underground room may be partitioned to suit the wants ot the farmer; but there should be at the entrance end a workroom, lighted from the end windows and the door, and separated from the main store- room by a stuffed partition and double door. The only access of air to the fruit room should be through registers at the end or sides of the room and at the bottom, communicating with deep earth passages running at least two ways for one hundred feet before opening to the outside air. This air passage should be of stone or tile, and be made so it will be free from rats, or rubbish of any kind. The object of this deep earth ventilation is to se- cure air from loithout and of low temperature, summer or winter, day and night. The cost of such a store house will vary according to local cir- cumstances, but at best need not be very expensive, and will prove valuable for keeping surplus fruits and vegetables to a time of greater need. Any builder can estimate the cost for his lo- calitv when he knows the size desired. Upon the same princi- ples of construction the farmer can build temporary storage with plenty of poles and straw, so that he may have uniform low temperature and protection from frost. With our fruit house constructed, we may commence picking our fall apples ten days before they are ripe, which last fall was September 1st to 15th for Utters', Plumb's Cider, Fameuse, Fall Orange and others of that class, in Southern Wisconsin. This was some ten to fifteen days earlier than their usual time of ripen- ing. These fall apples put into our fruit house will ripen slowly, and, when winter fairly sets in, will not be too far along to keep on till spring. Later ripening varieties will not need to be picked until nearly matured. The Apple Crop and its Management. 173 > For home use and near market we find the bushel crate to be both convenient and cheap, which we construct ad follows : twenty pieces lath two feet long constitute the sides, top and bottom ; we use ten-inch boards cut eleven inches lorjg. To these the lath strips are nailed about one inch apart, using six-penny nails for bottom and four-penny for the rest. These hold a fall bushel. "We pack and nail up in the field, when they are ready for the wagpn and store-room. These crates cost us about six cents each, fifteen cents per barrel. They are at all times easily unpacked and of good size for retailing, especially for early fruit, either in one bushel or one-half bushel, free cases. What constitutes a winter apple? One that does not mature its juices until winter. "Ripening" or maturing is a natural process which requires a high temperature, and if allowed to be completed upon the tree, the fruit will soon decay. If arrested at the right stage of maturity by cold storage, the fruit will keep indefinitely and ripen according to the degree of temperature it has in the store-room. Most fruits are of best quality ripened upon the tree, but the russety apples and pears are always best when ripened in close quarters in our dry climate, as they lose their juices by evaporation, and become tough and leathery if exposed. This brings us to the important fact that not all varieties will ripen and be their best under the same conditions of heat and moisture. For example, we have some excellent summer and autumn apples, which, if ripened in the heat of their seasons are of fair quality, but which would not mature their juices in cold weather and be of good flavor and texture. On the other hand, we have those which hold their own and are vastly improved by this prolonged ripening period. Of the two classes we will name the Duchess, Tetofsky, Colvert and Ben Davis, all of which are coarse in texture, and have diffuse juices, which can never become good winter apples, even though they may not mature until cold weather. For the other class I will name Summer Pearmain, Talman Sweet, Golden Russet, Blue Pearmain, Baldwin, Wal- bridge, all of which are best when ripened at a low temperarure and in close quarters. Almost any little, fine grained seedling * 174 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. with rich juices is better than the class first named for winter and long keeping. Our choice of winter fruit must then be with due regard to its essential quality. A first class apple will be better, and a poor apple will be poorer for keeping # and ripening its juices in mid winter. With all possible provision for keeping the larger part of our fall and earl^y winter apples into full winter and spring, we will have a surplus of excellent fruit which should be used in drying and canning. For the first, we have the old time methods of par- ing, coring and stringing, and hanging to the ceiling of the kitchen, and we have the improved machinery which pares, cores and slices at two or three turns of the crank ; enabling one person to work up twenty-five bushels per day. We have also the automatic driers, which receive the sliced apple fresh from the machine, and pass it out in twenty minutes, ready for the barrel without fly specks or eggs which often spiced our mother's apple bag, within and without. One of these improved factories run in connection with a fruit house at Spencerport, New York, worked up nedrl} r 20,000 bushels of apples the past autumn, all by this plan, and the product is mostly now in foreign markets at remunerative prices. The Siberian family have many of them so thin a skin that with the core slipped out they may be dried by stringing or after slicing, and will be found of the richest of dried apples and no way inferior to the best in the market. For canning, the im- proved Siberians thus prepared are superior to all other fruit for ordinary family consumption. Canning need not be an expensive process for the apple. We use good stone ware, sizes from five gallons down to one. The stone churn is most convenient, sealing the small plate cover with a cement made of rosin, three parts, tallow, one part. The addi- tion of a little whiting or pulverized chalk will give a desirable stiffness to it. Use no sugar in the canning, but flavor when used to suit the taste. It is found by the tests of science, that a large part of the sugar used in canning is wasted, the contact with the acid of the fruit in cooking converting it into glucose. These large packages of fruit can be opened in winter and re-canned or kept open until used up. Keeping Fruit. 175 I have been assured that fresh picked apples barreled with sweet cider would hold their flavor perfectly for months. Having never tried it I can only say that my opinion is that the flavor of apples so kept would be that of cider, hard or soft, sweet or sour. If the cider was boiled two-thirds down I think the result would be more satisfactory. If by any or all the modes I have named for utilizing our home-grown apples, we may save the surplus of our annual crop for its best uses, we will be the gainers by tens of thousands of dollars now paid for imported fruit. KEEPING FEUIT. By Chas. Hersingek, Baraboo. This subject has been assigned me for a paper on this occasion. It is a little out of the line of the subjects to which I have usually directed my attention, as all my previous efforts have been to show, or try to show, that fruit can be raised in Wiscon- sin. But here I am, like the preacher who kept preaching to the same congregation, "repent and be converted," till one day one of his devoted hearers stepped up to him, and, tapping him on the shoulder, said, "Parson, what makes you keep preaching 'repent and be converted ' all the time? Why not preach on some other subject?" "Oh," said the parson, "if you will just repent and get converted, then I will show you how to grow in grace." Now, as the growing of fruit has been a success in so far that some, if not all of us, have some fruit to take care of, it is but natural that we turn our attention to the best method of keeping it till we have a market for our surplus stock. In taking up this subject I am aware that the ground has been well trodden, and older heads than mine have let their light shine upon it, until it seems almost useless for me to attempt to add anything to what has already been said on the subject ; but as it is the fashion to obey the orders of our superiors, I, too, must obey. But here let me say in starting out that I will simply give my experience from a practical standpoint, and let others treat of the theoretical part. In order to keep apples, there are some things that it will not do to forget, and therefore I shall be compelled to go back to the 176 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. picking of apples, as so much depends upon the condition apples are in when picked, that the picking must be well and carefully done. Without going into detail as to picking, I will only say that, first, apples must be ripe when picked ; second, they must be hand-picked, and, third, they must be carefully handled. Do not drop them into the basket, but gently lay them in ; and right here I will say, it is best to dispose of all the summer and some of the fall apples at once, without any attempt to keep them longer than is necessary to put them into barrels. See that .you press them in well, and ship them to some market at once, and be contented with the market price, which they will surely bring if they are properly assorted. This brings me down to the subject of how to keep apples, and right here I will add that my experience teaches me better than to give one rule only, and to attempt to keep all kinds of even winter apples under the same conditions and treatment, as I find that some varieties should go into the cellar at once, when picked, whilst others should remain in the fruit-house or some out-house for a period of time, according to the variety. It would be impossible for me in a short paper to show what treatment to give to each variety in the long list of varieties we have, and yet it will be impossible to make myself understood without telling you just how I go to work; and for the purpose of shortening this paper I will drop out most of the varieties and commence with the Fameuse. Pick the apples when fully ripe, and pick all on the tree at the same time, so that it will not be necessary to look after that tree again. Then they are to be taken to the cellar and assorted, and the first-class apples immediately put into the cellar on shelves or bins, and the balance sent to the cider-mill to be worked up. I give the same treatment to the Haas and Pewaukee, and many other varieties, and pick the Pewaukee and Haas about the same time. The Plumb's Cider is left in the fruit house one week, then assorted and put into the cellar in bins or boxes. The sweet apples are taken to the cellar at once and placed in bins or boxes. Two bushel boxes are the most convenient, yet I am using mostly three bushel boxes. I place the first box a few Keeping Fruit. Ill inches from the cellar floor and put 2x2 scantling across the top of the box to set the next box on, and so on. I usually have my boxes three deep. Golden Russets are placed in new barrels. The barrels are filled even full and placed in the fruit house ten days ; then they are put into the cellar, the barrels are set on end, the head is placed on the top of the barrel, so that another barrel can be set on top. No ventilation is given them, except such as our apple barrels furnish. Other winter apple3 of the sour varieties are al- lowed to remain in the fruit-house from ten days to two weeks before moving them into the cellar. The doors and windows are left open day and night, except those on the south side, to allow a free circulation of the air. 1 will now describe the bins in which I keep apples. I make them by using 2x2 scantling for posts. The posts reach from the cellar floor to the joists, and are set three feet apart. The bins are three feet wide and from eight to nine feet long. The first bin is placed eight inches above the ground or floor of the cellar ; the next bin is twenty-four inches above the first, and the third still higher up. All the bins are eight inches deep, and are filled heaping full. This is a conven- ient way to get at the apples ; besides no room is lost, as more apples can be stored in the same amount of space in this way than in barrels, and it is also more convenient than the swing bin or shelves, as well as safer. The bins' will need to be made quite permanent, and can be moved readily when empty. Now the apples are in the cellar, and it would seem that I have done my part, but such is not the case; now comes the tug of war, which, however, would be easy enough if I had a refrigerator, but I have not. I have only a cellar. I am not to enlighten the professionals, but simply to give my experience to the amateur, and this paper is only calculated to benefit him if anyone. But I am digressing ; and to come back to the cellar. The doors and windows are now opened and allowed to remain so day and night, except in case there is a spell of very damp weather; then the cellar is closed on the side towards the wind till the weather changes, when the windows are again opened. This year they were open when nine degrees below zero was reached, 12 — Hort. 178 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. but were soon closed in the morning when I discovered that there had been a slight change in the weather during the night. And now to go on and tell you just what I did from that morning till this would take up too much of your valuable time, but to sum up, I will say that I have managed to keep my cellar from two to five degrees above freezing ; it only reached eight degrees above once. During this time the cellar has had ventilation by means of windows and doors on all sides, and has also ventilation through the top of the roof by means of a flue in the chimney which starts in the bottom of the cellar. The cellar is naturally dry, which is essential to the keeping of apples, as apples kept in a damp cellar will not keep well, even at a low temperature. This cellar is used for fruit only, which enables me to keep it very near freezing point. The following are the few important rules that I observe : First, never pick apples to keep when wet, but should I have no dry time in which to pick them, I am compelled to do it. When they are wet, I spread them out in the fruit house till dry. Second, I never put apples in the cellar unless perfectly dry. Third, in December all my apples were sorted over, and have been left undisturbed since then. Fourth, apples are not put in the barrel till a ready market is had, and then they are all sound when they leave my hands, and I know just what customers get, which would not be the case were apples placed in barrels at once, when put in the cellar, and headed up, as has been recommended by some. Fifth, I see that apples are well pressed in the barrel. And now a word to those who may say that I have simply told them what I did, and described my cellar, and said nothing as to the result. I will add that my apples are now in splendid condi- tion, with but very few rotten ones in the cellar. The fruit which I have on exhibition below was kept in this simple manner, and is a fair sample of what I have left at home. Mr. Wood — This question of the proper temperature of our cellars is a very important one, as we often have fruit and other things of much value stored in them. I have had considerable experience in this matter, but the results have not been very fa- vorable until the present winter, and I think the reason has been, Keeping Fruit. 179 because I did not know what the temperature actually was. One cannot judge correctly by the feelings, for, coming from a warm room into the cellar, it seems quite cool, and you are satisfied that it is about right. This winter I determined to regulate it more carefully, and bought three or four thermometers, and hung them up in different parts of the cellar. It was soon evident that the tendency had been to keep it too warm. By these thermometers I could tell what the temperature was, and, if too high, could easily reduce it by opening the ventilators. It has been very- near the freezing point all winter; in fact one of the thermome- ters has stood a little below it for six weeks, without any percep- tible variation. Everything has kept well. I am satisfied that it. is not wise to attempt to keep fruit or vegetables in our cellars without thermometers. B. S. Hoxie — It may be easy to keep the cellar at a low and even temperature in such a winter as the present, but how would you do in such a season as the one last year ? Mr. Wood — You can regulate it by the weather outside. If it is cold outside, and you want to reduce the temperature of the cellar, open the door or windows. If the weather turns warm outside, shut the cellar up tight. There are days in every season when you can reduce the temperature within by exposure, and then, when cool enough, you can shut it up and retain a low tem- perature for some time. Gr. J. Kellogg — There is no trouble in keeping the tempera- ture low enough this winter, but the main trouble has been to keep it from getting too low. Many cellars have frozen up, not- withstanding all efforts to keep the frost out. Some of us are anxious to know how to raise the temperature when too cold, and how to keep our fruit from freezing. A slisrht covering over apples will protect them from injury, even where the temperature remains two or three degrees below freezing for a number of weeks, and they will keep all the better for it, but if it goes much below this they are not safe. Most cellars have no place for setting up a stove. I would like to know if any have used oil stoves successfully. I have been fighting frost for the past six weeks, and have succeeded in keeping the cellar at two degrees below freezing, by kettles of coals from a wood fire. 180 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Charles Herschinger — Where the chimneys run to the bottom of the cellar the best way is to put in a stove and keep the tem- perature from getting too low. J. C. Plumb — The experience of every one who has tried these methods is that they are not satisfactory. They all require ti good deal of attention and labor and at the best, you cannot get an even temperature ; part of the time it will be too warm and then again, too cold. I have been satisfied for years that we must have a different system for the ventilation of our cellars, both in winter and summer. The most feasible plan, I think, is sub-earth or earth ventilation, passing a current of the out- side air through an underground channel a sufficient distance to have it modified by the earth temperature. Then winter or sum- mer there will be but little variation in the temperature of your cellar from that of the earth, which averages from forty-five to fifty degrees. The water in shallow wells if covered so as to pro- tect them from the influence of the outside air will remain about at this point the year through. By means of large bodies of ice an even temperature can be secured in fruit houses built for this purpose, but the plan I have mentioned seems to be the only one that can be brought into general use. I wish to criticise one point in Mr. Herschinger's paper, that is that apples will not keep well in a damp atmosphere; just the re- verse is true, as has been proved by many experiments of late. I would ask him what the condition of the air is in his barrels of Grolden Eussets, headed up tight ? Is not the moisture all retained? Is it not very damp ? Damp air is essential to the well keeping of fruit, provided it is of a low temperature. But a moist and high temperature causes apples to decay at once. If it must be high, then it is better to be dry, but where low, the dampness is beneficial. Mr. Herschinger — The Golden Russet requires more moisture to keep it well than other varieties. Yentilate your cellars all you can and the air will be damp enough for apples of other kinds, but not for the Russet, and hence I give them different treatment I once had a cellar with a stream of water running through it, but the fruit did not keep as well in it as in the one I now have, which Keeping Fruit. 181 is very dry. Where the cellars are shut up tight, with no ven- tilation except through the roof, the air will be sufficiently damp and often too damp to keep fruit well, and hence I claim that the fruit should be kept dry, as dry as you can get your cellar, and then there will be dampness enough. B. B. Olds, of Clinton — I can say from my own experience that different varieties need different treatment. As stated, the Golden Russet needs a greater degree of moisture to keep it well. This is a point of a good deal of importance. The plan of securing an even temperature by sub-earth ventilation looks rational and should be tested, as can easily be done. Senator Arnold — There ate a good many fruit men here, and I would like to get their opinion on what will be the effect of the severe weather this winter on the fruit crop. Mr. Kellogg — That question can be answered better next June than now, but I fear we shall have some orchard funerals then. The trees bore heavily last season, and went into winter quarters in rather a feeble condition. The weather was very cold last month, but I think that very little damage has been done so far; it is from warm weather, which will probably come, that danger is to be apprehended. The weather so far has been steady cold but not so severe as in some other years. In 1875, the aggregate number of degrees below zero in this month was 325, while this year it was 281. Wra, Gill — -If this warm weather is to come, is there any way in which we can protect our trees from injury by it? Mr. Kelloerg — -It would be well to shield the bodies on the south and southwest sides by boards, lath or paper. A.. G. Tuttle, Baraboo — I have observed the winters very care- fully for twenty-five years, and have made repeated examinations of the trees in each season. A year ago, about this time, I examined the trees and found little or no signs of injury. The wood was not colored in the least, but was as brght as in the fall. Last Saturday I examined the trees and found them in as good a condition as a year ago. These two years, this and last, have been the only seasons when I did not find more or less damage had been done in the orchard, more or less coloring of the wood. I 182 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. have observed that when the trees have been injured, it has been done by the extreme cold, rather than the sun. It is the cold that does the mischief in the winter and the sun in the summer, and they have precisely the same effect on the tree. There has been a good deal of cold weather this winter, but the season of extreme cold has been very short. In 1864 we had quite a number of days of extreme cold weather. On the 1st of January the ther- mometer stood at 34° below zero, and for a number of days it stood at 20° at noon. The result was, a great miny trees were killed. I have found that it is these extremes, long continued that do the mischief. In such weather the branches of the tree are very closely compacted and shriveled up as though dried by a stove, and where it remains in this state and the winds dry out the remaining moisture, the tree is seriously injured ; unless extremely hardy it must die. Twenty-five years ago, peaches raised out of doors were exhibited at the fair at Baraboo, notwithstanding the thermometer went down to — 20° the winter before, but this was only for one day and did no harm. I was very sure before examining the trees last week that I should not find any injury. I examined those that bore heavy crops last season as well as those that gave but little fruit. There has been no injury yet ; what may come remains to be seen. If we should have a week or two of very cold weather, and the thermometer should be very low for any length of time, I fear that injury will result. Mr. Plumb — I agree with Mr. Tuttle that thus far the trees have not been damaged at all. In our examinations we could not find the first sign of injury. I do not believe that cold weather will kill a tree, if it is prepared for it. If it is properly grown and the wood is well ripened it will endure cold without harm. The trouble is in these extreme changes. But there is another source from which injury may cMe, which I fear far more than all the cjld weather. It is the fact that when our win- ter came on, the ground was exceedingly dry, and froze up dry and is dry yet. The ground was bare the fore part of the winter, and froze very deep, and if the snow goes off and there is a succession of freezing and thawing, such as we usually have in February and March, there is great danger of injury to the Small Fruits. 183 roots aud that many trees will be killed. I would advise farmers to mulch their choicest trees, putting it on before the snow goes off and the ground thaws out. This mulch will doubtless prevent root-killing, the thing we have the most to fear to-day. SMALL FRUITS. I. N. Stone, Fort Atkinson. The subject of small fruits has been so widely discussed that it is not expected much will be offered that is new, nor is it neces- sary to dwell on the importance of growing them in abundance, as the increasing demand for all kinds is sufficient on this. It is my aim in this paper to present a practical method, which I have tested, in field culture and marketing strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, which can easily be adapted to garden culture, with slight variations. As growers of small fruit, we need to originate, or select from the many methods, one which will enable us to produce and place before the consumer fruit that will not only arrive in a satisfac- tory, but in an attractive condition. As farmers and tillers of even one-half acre, we should never rest satisfied until we succeed in producing a succession of berries for family use, from straw- berries to grapes. After thirteen years' experience in fruit growing, and a longer time in general farming, I claim every tiller of the soil can pro- duce an abundant supply of berries for his family, with as much certainty, and as little expense for labor, as it would cost to produce a supply of potatoes for the same family ; provided, varieties and a method for cultivation adapted to the locality be selected. We read in the horticultural journal?, published mostly in the east, that fall is the best time to transplant; but every practical small fruit grower in Wisconsin knows that early spring is much the best time to transplant nearly, if not all kinds of small fruit roots in this state. While fall planting may be best in cer- tain localities, it will not do as well here. For small fruits, select land that is free from sod and coarse 181 Wisconsin State Hobticultural Society. manure, but fertile enough to produce a good crop of corn. Much, damage is frequently done to newly set plants by the white grub and cut worm. I have tested some of the published remedies to head off these pests, but with only partial success. Seven years ago last fall, I had one acre of ground which I wished to set to strawberries the following spring, and knowing that there were a great many grubs in every foot of it, I concluded to plow it deep just before winter set in. I commenced one afternoon and plowed one-fourth of it. A hard freeze at night kept me from plowing the balance until spring, when I finished plowing the piece, and set it all to strawberries. The plants on the fall plowing were not disturbed at all by the grubs, while those on each side were nearly all destroyed by them. Since then I have adopted the plan of plowing fruit ground just before it freezes up for winter, and have not had any loss from grubs or cut worms. Strawberry ground should be made level and free from lumps. Roots that have been shipped should be unpacked on arrival and kept moist until planted. Set the roots straight down, spread out fan-shaped. If set in the spring do not allow them to fruit the first year. Use a cultivator that will work deep and not ridge the rows, and do not allow the weeds to get large at any time. In the fall, about the time the ground freezes up, cover the whole surface of the bed with coarse marsh hay, straw, or leaves, thick enough to hide the plants. In the spring leave as much mulching on the bed as the plants will come up through, having a good healthy color. In preparing a bed for the second year, it is very desirable to grow enough new plants on newly worked soil between the rows, to produce a good crop. To accomplish this it is very important that we prepare the bed immediately after the berries are gathered, by removing the mulching — if it is not fine enough to work into the soil — and cutting the rows down so that they will be about ten inches wide, using a horse and small, sharp steel plow, throw- ing the furrow from the row. This will leave a ridge between the rows which can be leveled with an ordinary cultivator. Instead of taking a narrow strip from each side of the row, take all from one side. By this plan nearly all of the plants left Small Fruits. 185 in the row are only one year old. Cultivate well until the new plants are ready to root, then allow them to fill the space between the rows, not too thick, however. In the spring cut out the old row if there are enough new plants for a crop, and use the place occupied by it for the pickers to pass through while picking. Should the row left to renew the bed, fail to furnish enough new plants for a crop of fruit, save it with a strip of the new plants on each side. Unless the soil is very fertile, fine manure, free from grass seed, should be scattered on the bed freely after it has been well cultivated the first time, or early in the fall. !" ., To prepare the ground for black-raspberries, mark the rows seven feet apart one way, with a small plow ; the other, three and a half feet with a marker. Brush the dry dirt from the place where the plant is to be .set, spread the roots, and cover three inches deep with good, mellow soil, being careful not to break the germ of the plant if started. Cultivate both ways the first year, after that once or twice a year, the widest way only, and mulch heavy in the row. The first year pinch off the tips of the new canes when about one foot high, after the first year, when from two to two and a half feet. In the fall or spring cut out old canes and do not leave over four new cane3 in a hill ; cut the branches back within twelve to eighteen inches of the main cane. If a bed should get sodded over and partly run out, it can be re- newed by allowing the grass to grow ten or fifteen inches high in the spring, ^then apply a heavy mulch, enough to bend the grass over. Eed raspberries should be set four by five feet apart. Furrow one way, and set the plants four to five inches deep, and when the new growth is in sight, cut away the old cane, if inclined to grow. Cultivate shallow, and if roots are not needed to transplant, treat suckers as weeds. If kept in hills, allow only four canes in a hill ; if in hedges, only one or two in a place. The first year pinch off the tips of the new canes when about one foot high ; after the first year, from two to two and one-half feet. In the fall or spring, cut out canes and the branches back within ten to fifteen inches of the main cane; mulch second or third year with mulching that is free from grass seed. Do not dig roots for trans 186 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. planting near the canes you want to fruit, or cultivate later than the first of August. Blackberry ground should be marked seven or eight feet one way with a small plow, the other way three and one-half or four feet with a marker. Set the roots from four to six inches deep, and when the new canes come up, cut the old canes off, if inclined to grow. Cultivate shallow, until about the first of August. If cultivated later than this, it will incite a late growth of wood, which will not mature. The first year pinch the tips off from the new canes when from one to two feet high ; after the first year, from two to three feet. In the fall or spring, cut out old canes, and cut the branches back within twelve to twenty inches of the main cane. If kept in hills, do not allow over four canes to a hill. If in hedges, only one or two in a place. Mulch heavy after the first or second year. Keep the suckers down with a hoe or by shallow cultivation. Do not dig roots from a plantation, if frait is wanted. It is not uncommon for fruit-growers to succeed in growing a fine crop of fruit, and fail to realize a profit on it, because of the haphazard way they gather and market it. That this may be done without loss, a good supply of packages should be made up ready for use before the berries are ripe. The ground should be divided, so as to pick half of the fruit every day, except Satur- days, when all that is ripe should be gathered, in order to get over Sunday without having overripe berries for Monday. Take cases filled with empty boxes into the field, also hand-racks made so that about eight-quart boxes can be carried in each. Give each picker an empty box, or a hand-rack filled with boxes, and a row, if strawberries; if raspberries or blackberries, place one on each side of the row, with instructions to pick strawberries by pinching off the stem of the berry about one-third of an inch from the hull, using great care not to loosen the hull, or bruise the berry, and in gathering all kinds of berries that they must not put overripe or too green berries in the box. As soon as the pickers are at work, take two hand racks filled with empty boxes, and tickets that cannot be duplicated by the pickers, and when they get their boxes full take the full ones and Small Fruits. 187 give empties, and tickets. This enables the pickers to keep their places and saves a great deal of careless moving around on the bed. The overseer should pass around frequently among the pickers, and see that they are doing their work right, examining their partly filled boxes often, and looking after their rows to see if picked clean. If the pickers get scattered so as to make it inconvenient to wait upon them, those whose rows are ahead should be placed on the row or rows that are behind, right opposite where they 'are, and work back until they meet, then each should take his own row again. The overseer will find time to case the berries ready for market, and have them put in a cool place as soon as full cases are gathered. When through picking for the day, count the tick- ets of each picker, and place the number, with the price paid per quart for picking, in pickers' account book, to his credit. If berries are picked in the middle of the day they should be cooled through before forwarding, if possible, by placing in a cool, dry cellar. They should be carried on springs, handled with care, and forwarded to fruit dealers that have a good retail trade. After we have been to the expense, and succeeded in growing tine fruit, and placing it in the express office in good condition, we are often surprised to hear from our dealers that it arrived in poor condi- tion ; we know that our local express agents are usually interested in our business, and handle our fruit with care; but if we are at the train when it is put aboard, we may often see the messenger on the train throw it about the car as though it were so much cord wood. You will not wonder then that your fruit does not arrive at destination in good condition. If we politely suggest to the messenger that we have an interest in the fruit he is handling, and request him to handle it with care, we usually make matters worse, and return to our homes discouraged in the business; but if a plain statement of the facts be addressed to the superintend- ent of the company, the reckless messenger will be instructed to attend to his business in a proper manner, or lose his position. I find it the fairer way, both for the grower and dealer, to send the berries regularly through the season, giving the dealer the power to fix the price from day to day, with the understanding 188 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. that he is to sell at the top of the market in his locality, and that he is to receive a certain per cent, on the selling price. He must also send weekly statements of his sales. If the market should get over-stocked at any time, at some of the places shipped to, most dealers will gladly release a grower, for a few days, on a part or the whole of the regular shipment, if wished, and the surplus can be sent to those that are not overstocked. A home market should not be overlooked, and the grower should use his own judgment, as he will know the condition of the market. TEN YEARS IN" HORTICULTURE. A. J. Philips, West Salem. I believe it was Patrick Henry who said we have no way of judging of the future but by the past. I am reminded that com- mencing the year A. D. 1881, while we are contemplating the advancements, improvements, profits, losses, failures and disap- pointments that may characterize this, our chosen pursuit, during the next ten years or longer, that it is fitting and proper that we review some of these during the ten years that have passed since 1870. It would, of course, take volumes and tire your patience to refer to all our experiences, proceedings, experiments, etc., during these years. So the purpose of this paper will be to give some instances in the writer's experience, more particularly in apple-growing in Northwestern Wisconsin, than in horticulture generally, together with some items from our Transactions by way of a review, which may benefit us all. 'Tis true in reviewing in this as in other pursuits in life, it serves to recall many mistakes, blunders, unpleasant and unprofitable investments, while on the other hand it recalls very many pleasant recollections, acquain- tances and associations, that we would be loth to forget. The fact is we hardly realize how often we change our minds on cer- tain subjects until we look back and recall things that we have done or recommended in years gone by. I will give some instances before I close this paper, not only of my own changes, but also of the changes and difference in views of other fruit men, which, no doubt, are generally the result of our own experience. Ten Years in Horticulture. 189 In the beginning I will say that I was a firm unbeliever in apple growing in Northwestern Wisconsin up to the year 1871, that is, so as to be profitable, and I sometimes wish I had remained firm in that belief. Still, as I always was a lover of fruit and had a desire to raise it, and when I attended our state fair in the fall of 1871 and looked over the large collection of beautiful ap- ples and other fruit, and found that it was raised not only in the lake shore region and southern parts of the state, but also in the central, western and northern portions, as the fruit from Baraboo and Trempealeau bore testimony, being as far north as I lived, I confess I began to change my mind; and when I saw the hand- some trees exhibited by Uncle Wilcox that were grown near me, I resolved to set some trees in my garden at least. Of course my enjoyment at the fair was limited compared with what it now is, as I was not acquainted with a single fruit grower or nurseryman. But I asked some questions and listened to answers, when others not so bashful as I was, were asking for information. I looked over the growers to satisfy myself about the style of a man that was needed for a fruit grower. I confess I was somewhat dis- couraged, as I could never expect to attain the size of Peffer, nor possess the flow of language of Kellogg, nor secure a location that would grow such Fameuse apples as Tuttle had there, or grow such grapes a3 Reid ; so I went home never expecting to be an exhibitor at even a county fair. But that fall after my return I went into the country on business, and my attention was called to some very thrifty and smooth apple trees on the top of the ridge where my orchard now is. The thought at once suggested itself that here would be a good place to grow fruit, especially apples. So while the fever for fruit-growing was high, and visions of beautiful apples had possession of my brain, and constituted most of my dreams at night, without stopping to count the cost suffi- ciently, or considering that I did not know a Fameuse apple tree from a Soulard Crab, or that I knew less than the ordinary school boy about suitable varieties for this climate, I immediately bought a piece of wild land adjoining where the aforesaid trees were growing, and supposing all I needed to do was to clear and break the land, and set out such trees as agents had to sell me, I went 190 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. at it in earnest in the spring of 1872, and broke about seven acres, which I set to Fameuse, Ben Davis, Yellow Bell Flower, Golden Russet, Jonathan, Rawle's Janet, and many others, that the winter following fixed in such a shape that I never had a chance to know what they were. These trees came from Roches- ter, New York. That winter convinced me, as well as others, that we needed something hardier, so I began to look for information. I read and reread the Transactions of 1870 and 1871. I found that in this as in other pursuits, great minds differed. Mr. I. Gould of Beaver Dam, recommended Crab roots for hardy trees, and Messrs. IStickney and Plumb seemed to be very cautious about recom- mending them. I had read Mr. Andrews' article on crabs written in 1871, and as my faith in standards was somewhat shaken, to use a vulgar expression, I was ready to catch onto anything. When he said they were the best selling apple in Chicago; that canned they were superior to peaches; that the Soulard was equal in value to the Quince, that they could be raised cheaper than com- mon apples, and that their cultivation promised immense blessings which I'm fearful have resulted in cursings, especially when a man after years of tender care tasted his first Soulard Crab, or when after picking, purchasing barrels, packing and shipping to Chicago, and after waiting days for returns, they were called on as my friend Ringrose, of Milwaukee, was, for cash to pay freight; and when he further said, that as a canning fruit there was mil- lions in crabs, as millions one or more was what I was after, I was just a subject to be misled, as many beginners are, notwith- standing the fact that my friend Wilcox had written an article, page 189, of 1872, where he said the crab apple is over-done, and has become nauseous, and is unprofitable to grow. Though that was written ten years ago, it is true to day. Mr. Tuttle also said in 1872, that to grow crab apples for market would be unprofit- able. I say, notwithstanding this testimony from experienced men, I still followed the advice of Andrews and Felch, who said he sold Siberians as high as four dollars per bushel and crabs in Chicago at five dollars a barrel when winter apples sold for two dollars and fifty cents. If you doubt this statement look at page Ten Years in Horticulture. 191 47, of 1873. You need not wonder that in the spring of 1873, I set a promiscuous lot, mostly crabs, and wonderful poor crabs too. I also set more Fameuse, but went slow on Duchess, as Mr. Wil- cox said in 1871 that they would rot before they were ripe. I bousrht crabs of the same man that President Grimes of the Min- nesota State Society complains of, but I cannot condemu a tree- pedlar as he does, for with all their faults the country owes half the trees we now have to them, and their persisting in selling. My crabs grew well. About the time I bought the orchard I first spoke of, Mr. Jew- ell was at our annual meeting in the winter of 1871, and in his remarks said that of all the Minnesota seedlings, the Wealthy was the only one left of any value, and that it was as hardy as the Duchess. I felt the truth of Mr. Tuttle's remark, when he said a man is foolish to raise crabs if he can raise standards. So I began to have a desire to know something of the Wealthy. In the winter of 1875, in answer to a letter of inquiry, Mr. Jewell called and spent the night with me, and at that time I bought of him my first hundred Wealth}' trees, they being two years old, and no marble tablet erected to his memory could bring such recollection of him and his persistent efforts to grow and dissemi- nate hard}'' trees, as the sight of those trees, after they began bearing, which was in 1878. That year in recommending it as worthy of a place in our list of Iron-clads, I said that I considered the Wealthy, as a tree, better than the fruit, but now I take that back, as I consider the fruit us good as the tree, and taken together, it is hard to duplicate for the northwest, or for any other nothern locality. It is highly spoken of in different places where it has been fruited in Canada. I do think to-day, that the inhab- itants of Minnesota, as well as other northern states are under greater obligations to our friend Peter M. Gideon, for originating this valuable variety than to the originator of any other one variety, the statement of the President of the Minnesota State Soci- ety, to the contrary notwithstanding. He says, that " we are under no obligations to Mr. Gideon, as the Wealthy is the gift of Al- mighty God, brought out by the bigotry of Mr. Gideon," which I consider a very thankless and uncalled for expression. I was very 192 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. glad that Wyman Elliot and others came to Mr. Gideon's rescue and he was retained in his position another year, which I consider he richly deserves to hold as long as he is able to continue his experiments, and then he should be retired on a pension for life, to be paid by the fruit growers of Minnesota, and the northwest. These are my views and I wish to have them put on record. In 1875, I, for the first time, attended the winter meeting of this society and have not missed a meeting since. I have gained much valuable knowledge and formed many cherished acquaintances in these gatherings. In 1876, I attended the meeting of the Minne- sota State Society and the next spring set more crabs, including the peer of that fruit, Whitneys No. 20. I also set more Wealthy, Pewaukee, Utter and some Walbridge. In 1877, I set more No. 20, Wealthy, Fall Spitzenberg, Pewaukee and Walbridge, also a few Carolina Eed June and Rawle's Janet. The spring of 1878, I let up on crabs and set standards only, of such varieties as I had found to be hardy. That fall Mr. Stickney made me a visit, and the only fear he expressed was, that I would be overstocked with No. 20 Crab3 ; but to-day, I would gladly trade five hundred other crab trees for them, for I consider it a good crab to be over- stocked with. I had about fifteen bushels of this fruit in 1880, and find it sells well. In the fall of 1878, 1 made my first exhibi- tion at the state fair and the first premiums I received tended to encourage me, and also to impress me with my former opinion that my location was good for one so far north. In 1879, I again exhibited, but not with as good success, not owing to the fact that my fruit was inferior but that the fruit in the eastern and southern portions of the State was much better than the previous year. I had about one hundred and fifty bushels of apples this year and one hundred bushels in 1878. In the spring of 1879, I set five hundred more trees, one hun- dred of the number being Norway Spruce, which are now grow- ing finely. The balance were apple trees of the following vari- eties: Wealthy, Willow Twig, Fameuse, Utter, McMahon's White, Fall Orange, and a few of the new Russians. This brought me to the winter of 1880, when, with my mistakes in fruit growing, paying interest, helping others and other things beyond my con- Ten Years in Horticulture. 193 irol, I found myself like the man who went to Pike's Peak to seek his fortune: I had saved myself, but came near losing all I had. Urged by my friends to continue and see the outcome of mv enterprise, I arranged my business, and set more trees in spring of 1880. I found among my list of friends one nurseryman who still had faith in my undertaking; that was A. Gr. Tuttle. He sent me nearly two hundred fine trees, told me to set them and pay for them when I made it out of the trees. They all grew nicely last summer. I exhibited apples at our state fair and at the Minnesota state fair in the fall of 1880, and received my share of the premiums. I think I am about two hundred miles too far north, still I have faith that my undertaking will be a success. When Judge Knapp exhorted us last fall, if we wished to raise fruit, to emigrate to Florida, I almost wished I was there. But now comes the sad ntelligence that even in the sunny south, that favored spot, the cold of the present winter has frozen their orange trees. This winter an old neighbor of mine gave me such a glowing account of farming and stock-raising in the mild climate of Texas, that I almost wished I was there, and that some one else had my orchard. But recently I read of one ranchman who had lost four hundred cattle and twenty five horses, frozen to death in that state, so I feel contented to stay in Wisconsin. In our Transactions, where friend Plumb and others have repeatedly said that the best loca- tion for an apple orchard was high land, clay soil underlaid with limestone, it encouraged* me, as that describes my location exactly. Mr. Wilcox has moved to La Crosse from Trempealeau, and has selected a location for a nursery and an orchard, similar to mine this satisfies me that he considers mine good, as he had made me several visits and looked my orchard over. I have, as I said before, formed many pleasant acquaintances during these ten years. I have visited Mr. Peffer aud his orchard and seen the Pewaukee at home. Have visited Whitney and seen the original No. 20 tree; have visited Tuttle, Wilcox, Free- born & Hatch, Sabin, Sumner and Mathews, in Wisconsin, and Messrs. Sias, Jordon and Cook of Minnesota, and have been cor- dially received in every instance ; have gained valuable informa- 13 — HORT. 191 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. tion by attending the meetings of the Minnesota State Society, for our wants and inquiries are similar to theirs. I feel a deep interest in our state society. I find that in 1870 we had ninety-eight members : in 1880 only fifty-eight. Of the fiftv-eisrbt in 1880 only fifteen were members in 1870. Some have moved away, and some have gone over the river of death ; their labors are ended. In 1S70 we had $'626 in the treasury, in 1880, S15 ; plainly showing that we are receiving less money, or expending more. Our fruit list has changed some in ten years, Duchess and Fameuse only holding the position now that they did then, in the first and hardiest list for all localities. They now have for companions, Wealthy, Tetofsky, Haas and Plumb's Cider, instead of Astrachan, Talman Sweet and Golden Russet. Plumb's Cider has advanced from second to first list. ; Tetofsky and Haas from third to first list, and Wealthy, then almost un- known, has advanced to the first list, where I think it rightly belonss. But it is a question with me whether we are advancing in horticulture by crowding the Tetofsky into and keeping it in our first list This much I do know, that a man who had Tetofsky in his list of five varieties adapted to the northwest has failed to get a premium for two years, and a man with St. Lawrence in its place took first. Ten years ago Ben Davis was in our third list; now it is stricken out entirely, and as no tree has had. such a varied career, and will better ehow the fact that great minds do differ, I will give a brief history of it. In 1873, Mr. Kellogg moved that it be placed on the list for general cultivation. In 1874, Tuttle, Wilcox, Jewell, Greenman, Butler and others wanted it stricken from the list, but P. S. Bennett and Kellogg came to its rescue, and it was retained. J. C. Plumb placed it in the list of iron clads in 1871. Felch, of Stevens Point, placed it at the head of list of hardiest apples in 1873. That same year, Peffer said it was not discolored at the terminal buds. Mygatt spoke highly of it in 1874, the same year that X. H. Topping, of Blown county, said he saw one man that had four trees, fourteen years planted, who said : " Had I planted one thousand Ben Davis, I could by this time have bought a good farm with the proceeds," Judge Cate discarded it that 'year, but he also discarded the Ten Years in Horticulture. 195 Fameuse and others. Koundsville stuck by it in 1875. J. C. Plumb recommended it in 1877. B. B. Olds placed it in his list of six in 1878. Huntley spoke of it favorably that year, and the same year, on motion of A. Gr. Tuttle, it was stricken from the list, no one rising to say a word in its favor. B. F. Adams said, in 1880, that after fruiting it three years, he was in favor of it. Suel Foster, of Iowa, said, after fall of 1880, that Ben Davis and Willow Twig were his two best paying varieties. I am not sure that we acted wisely in dropping it entirely, as with all its short- comings, faults and failures, trees that were set in 1872, in this town, yielded five bushels to the tree of nice fruit; and to-day, notwithstanding its poor quality, it will outsell arjy apple in my cellar, excepting Pewaukee and Jonathan. I will set twenty-five more next spring, if I can get them. In 1874, Judge Cate wrote an able article and gave us many valuable suggestions. Crab roots for grafting stand in 1880 about where they did in 1870, having lost rather than gained friends and advocate?. Pears are weaker on account of blight o Flemish Beauty stood first, then, and still holds its own. Kel- logg took premiums on pears in 1872, and in 1871 said he had a pear growing on Mountain Ash, doing finely, which is about his last evidence in favor of pear growing in Wisconsin. The Pe- waukee and Walbridge run quite low in the estimation of plant- ers from 1873 to 1876, since which time they both have been gaining ground, especially Pewaukee, which grows better and hardier as it grows older. It bore heavy crops of fine fruit, last fall, and is entitled to all that brother Peffer ever said in its favor. The Concord, in grapes, and the Wilson, in strawberries, stand now at the head of their respective lists, as they did ten years ago, although many rivals have tried to dethrone them. S. D. Carpenter urged the growing of grapes, in 1871, and advised making them into wine. S. D. Hastings, the same year, read an able paper against wine drinking. Salt was then recommended for blight, and I hardly think we know of anything better now. Branches and buds of peach trees from open ground were shown in 1872, in good condition, but the like has not occurred since, for good and sufficient reasons, to wit : too cold. 106 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Tuttle, Peffer and Woodward spoke in favor of pear-culture, in 1873, and Felch, Kellogg and others against it ; so, to average it, I set one dozen trees, and have gathered a few five-dollar specimens. Your secretary said, in 1872, that he preserve 1 the Duchess until the winter meeting by packing in saw dust; so, in 1875, 1 tried that plan with some seedlings, but when I exhibited them at the annual meeting of that year, they tasted so strong of the saw dust that even President Stickney made up a crooked face when tasting them. Mr. J. B. Richardson said, in 1871, "The more I am engaged in horticulture, the better I like it," which are exactly my feelings in 1881. George Pir.ney wrote an article, in 1872, on forest trees, that is as applicable to day as it was then. Mr. Tattle favored low heads in 1872, and in 1880 he favors high heads, I mean on apple trees ; and I have advocated the same thing, and fully agree with him on that subject now, as I find that three-fourths of our trees, when they begin to bear heavy, are too near the ground. Felch placed Golden Russet at the head of his list in 1873, and at the same time rejected Willow Twig. But after years of experience, without saying one word against the good qualities of Golden Russet, I find I can raise three bar- rels of Willow as easily as one of Russet. Location or soil no doubt makes the difference. Notwithstanding there have been failures, and we have had much to contend with that was dis- couraging, I think the fact is plain that we can produce good fruit in Wisconsin in paying quantities. My object and desire now is, less crabs and fall apples and more winter varieties. I hoped years ago that we should get something in the shape of a winter apple among the Russians that would be safe to tie to. But my hopes, I fear, are not likely to be realized. I still hope for some- thing among our seedlings that will be to us, as a winter fruit, what my friend Gideon's Wealthy has proved as a fall variety. Most of my crab trees, that once I expected millions from, will either be dug out or top-worked next spring with winter fruit, as, using Mr. Tuttle's language, "Who can afford to grow a crab when he can grow Wealthy or Utter just as well?" I intend to set three hundred trees next spring, as follows: Fifty Wealthy, Ten Years in Horticulture. 197 fifty Fameuse, twenty-five Jonathan, twenty-five Willow-Twig, twenty-five Pewaukee, twenty-five Walbridge, twenty-five Ben Davis ; the balance will be a winter seedling I have, MeMahon's White, and a few new varieties. So you can see how my mind runs now. Years ago, I said that No. 20 would not blight. I find that a man should be careful about saying anything positive. I now say, it is not liable to blight, but plant it near a Price's Sweet, or other tree that blights badly, and it will blight some. In 1880, I had about three hundred bushels of apples, mostly on young trees. Now, after hearing this imperfect review of a wild and reckless adventure. I leave it with you, fellow horticulturists, to judge whether I have made any progress in teu years or not. I do know this : I hardly knew a single variety of apples ten years ago, but now I can carry a few to the fairs without labels. I was not acquainted with any trees or tree-growers then, but dur- ing these years have become acquainted, with most of the leading fruit men of this state and some in other states. I am working into the wool and mutton business by raising a good large flock of sheep, so that if the present winter, or some succeeding one, wipe3 out the trees entirely, I will have something to fall back upon. In this event, I should be loth to give up these winter meetings, but at present I want to be numbered with the men referred to by B. R. Bones, in 1830, who are bound by persistent effort to succeed in fruit growing; and right here I will give some items, by way of an inventory, so that anyone who contemplates eng-a^ino- in the business I have been reviewing, can form some idea of what he needs aside from soil suited, etc. When I started in 1871, as near as I can remember, the stock in trade was about as follows: Wild land, worth $500; experience and observation, $10; cash on hand, $500; trees, bought and paid for, $50; grit, $100; making a total of $1,160, for engaging in a business I knew but little about, Now, to continue the same business tea years later, I invoice as follows: Cultivated land in orchard, $3,000; experience and observation, $2,000; cash on hand, $10; trees on hand and in nursery, aside from orchard, $500 ; grit, $1,990, making a total of $7,500. Parties here who are adepts 198 Wiscoxsin State Hobticultural Society. in railroad corporations may say this stock is heavily watered, but of this you can judge. I hardly think the present winter as hard on trees as 1872 and 1873, bat it is hard to tell. It has certainly been cold enough. We thought after that winter, also 1874 and 1875, that trees were nearly used up, but the statistics of 1879 report that Wisconsin produced that year six hundred and fifty thousand bushels of ap- ples. With all my blunders, one thing I have found out is, that a short paper read before any society gives the best satisfaction, especially if the subject be a dry one, therefore I ask your indul- gence and pardon for the length of this paper ; for had I compre- hended the fact that the more a man wrote on it the more he wanted to write, I certainly would not have chosen it. But I hope at some future time t) give you a review that will be more flattering, and if in this, I have said one word or advanced one idea, that will benefit the future fruit grower of Wisconsin or any other state by way of inducing him to post himself thoroughly before he starts in, thereby saving him much trouble and disap- pointment, then I shall feel amply repaid for giving this general but imperfect review. A few words more. I cannot close with- out speaking of one special feature of the proceedings of this society for the past ten years. You may read the reports of Maine, Michigan, Canada, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and in fact all others that I have seen, and in none of them have they such interesting and valuable papers as we have annually received from and had read by our lady friends — papers on flowers, home influences and adornments, that are treasures worthy of a place on the tables or in the libraries of every home in our state. Enough instruction and sound advice is given in those papers to better the condition of many, ye3, very many homes in our land, if read and practiced by the members thereof. J. C. Arthur, of Madison, remarked that the nature of the fungoids and their habits of growth are not fully understood ; and there are many erroneous views prevalent in regard to them. Now Fungus is a plant, with habits and individuality peculiar to itself, as much so as any plant, tree or animal. There are many kinds ; some of them feed on inorganic matter the same as plants The Birds of the Garden. 199 growing in the soil ; others, aud by far the larger part, live on organized vegetable matter, and yet others live on organized animal matter. Decay is not a necessary condition for their growth, for they can disorganize the organic matter and take it up as they need it. Where they disorganize it faster than they use it up, decay results ; it may be in the form of dry rot, or a wet rot or putrifaction. Where dry rot takes place, other forms of fungoid growth are developed ; but where the disorganization is rapid and wet rot results, another form of organism accom- panies it, as the bacteria or lower form of animal life. The fungi peculiar to the wheat plant does not disorganize the vegetable tissues faster than it uses them, and the plant may live on with slightly imposed vitality. If there is a rapid growth of the fungi, the result is the exhaustion of nourishment needed by the wheat, and it dies from starvation. J. C. Plumb regarded the subject of fungoid growth as a very important one, and one that was but very little understood. We have seen and felt the evil results, but know little in relation to their different forms, habits of growth and conditions. We are not only ignorant of the first principles of the science pertaining to them, but we have not even learned the a. b. c. of their history, and cannot talk about or investigate them understandingly. We must come back, and begin with the rudiments and first principles of the science in order to get any definite knowledge of the subject. THE BIRDS OF THE GARDEN. By Mrs. H. M. Lewis, Madison. 41 Xnow ye not that he who hath had his life according to God's will, to him the wild beasts and wild birds draw most near." — St. Guthlac. One evening not many months ago, I received a letter from the worthy president of the horticultural society, asking me for a paper for the coming meeting. I cast about for a subject, but nothing that suited me came to mind. At last, I went into the mystical dream land, and was transported over land and sea to an island. On this wonderful island everything 'grew in great 200 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. beauty and perfection. Here was bright sunshine, refreshing shade, green hills and placid waters, making such lovely land- scapes as were never seen before. Here every want of man was perfectly supplied and he lived the perfect godlike life. " Ah ! " said my companion, " we have at last found our true home upon earth, our heaven, our perpetual June ; here we will rest content- edly forever." In the words of Tacitus I replied, "Let the sweet muses lead me to their soft retreats; their living fountains, the melodious groves, where I may dwell remote from care, master of myself, under no necessity of doing every day what my heart condemns." We enjoyed this paradise of sense for a few days, but at last began to feel oppressed with a feeling of loneliness and longing for something more. Inquiry was made of our friends and com- panions why it was that such unbroken silence prevailed both day and night; we told them of our singing birds, our buzzing bees, chirping crickets, and bright winged butterflies. They pressed eagerly about us, urging us to tell them more about these strange, bright colored, singing animals that had wings like fins, that could swim in the air. for such a strange story had never been told them before. The charm for us now was broken for- ever ; we could be happy in no home, however beautiful, where the song of the .Robin and Bluebird was not heard, and we im- plored our good Genie to take us back again to our dear Wis- consin home of summer's heat and winter's cold. He waved his magic wand over us and we were soon homeward bound. As we approached our own land, we discerned spring approaching, and in the far distance, on the Pacific slope, on Alaska's borders, over the western prairies and eastern meadows and mountain tops, we heard millions of well known voices which we recognized as Kobins. The same dear old Eobin Redbreast song that delighted us so much in childhood — that will delight us ever while we live. It is the same sweet old song that has been sung for ages, and perhaps will be sung for all time ; who can tell ? Possibly we may hear it at the very gates of Heaven ; I hope so. Thoreau savs ; "I heard a Robin in the distance, the first I had heard for many a thousand years, methought, whose notes I shall not forget The Birds of the Garden: 201 for many a thousand more." When I awoke from this eventful dream I could but exclaim, what indeed would summer be without birds ! How much we are indebted to them for the brightness, freshness and gladness of summer. "We ought to be on more familiar and friendly terms with our neighbors, the birds; to know more of their habits and language, for their language is as easily learned as that of the little child ; for every want is expressed by song, cry or chirp, which, to them, is language. We do not, as yet, understand by what reason or instinct the bird is guided in its pilgrimage north and south, and perhaps never will, but we are positively assured that birds frequent the same spot year after year. Perhaps the range of mountains, course of rivers, the lay of towns and cities, marks their course. Who shall tell ? We only know that they leave us at night, and when the warm south wind blows, come to us again at night in the spring. They take no reporters with them, therefore their secrets are their own. One of the earliest, sweetest, and most familiar birds of the garden is the Bluebird, that, Thoreau says, " carries the sky on its back." The first breath of spring brings him among us. His song is a sweet melodious warble, all harmony, for his notes are so pure that he is incapable of making a discord. He sits under the window, on the fence, stone or bush, and sings away in per- fect content, even though the cold be severe and the sky dark, and his song is, "I love you, I love you." This song is continuous through the summer, and wherever we go, in town or country, this bit of blue cloud, with crimson lining, cheers us with a merry song. The Bluebird is attached to his home, for he comes year after year to the same hollow box, or fence post to rear his young. The Robin's song has not a great variety of notes, therefore naturalists do not regard him as a first-class minstrel. He ranks about as third rate ; but for a song that wears like the old home melodies, give us first and last the Robin's song, with its sweet, simple melody, that always cheers and refreshes, but never tires. No bird sings at dawn like the Robin. The Robin is truly the favorite bird of our land. He has ever been regarded as the bird 202 Wisconsin State Horticultueal Society. having a soul, perhaps from the many tales and legends that have been told of his wonderful deeds in past ages. The Robin comes soon after the Bluebird, and remains usually until the last of October. During the warm winter of 1877 they did not leave us for the south untd the last of December, and returned the 1st of February. The Blackbird is probably not a favorite with any of us, but we should not wholly condemn him, for he has a mission to per- form and he does it well. He destroys myriads of insects during the summer season. I have seen a Blackbird catch more than a hundred spiders in five minutes. He is a social bird, in fact, keeps up a constant chatter with his companions. He is, I be- lieve, the only polygamist among our northern birds. The golden black plumage is often most beautiful. The Blackbird comes early in the spring, and leaves in immense flocks about the middle of October. Of sparrows we have several varieties ; they are among our earliest visitants. The Chipping Sparrow or Hair Bird is well known to us all. Its only song is chip, chip, which it repeats from morning until night. It is so familiar that we can nearly approach it when on the ground. But if we venture near enough to the shrub or tree to view the beautiful speckled eggs when the old ones ate near, the nest is deserted and the eggs destroyed. It gives us plainly to understand that its domestic affairs must not be interfered with. It is a courageous little bird, and will fight sometimes to its death. No bird is more closely associated with my early childhood than the little Song Sparrow. How well I remember that sweet, religious song, as I heard it on the banks of a river those years ago; and I never hear it now without having aroused within me the deepest feelings of exultation and delight. The notes are clear, liquid and sweet ; sometimes the song will be exactly the same for hundreds of times; then will begin variations so numer- ous that we can with difficulty believe the small bird capable of such changes. The male and female dress alike, in plain russet and gray, which does not change during the season. The White-Throated Sparrow calls upon us for two or three The Birds of the Garden. 203 weeks in the early spring, and again in the autumn, as it passes north and south. They are said to nest in the far north. They resemble in appearance the Song Sparrow. The song is also similar and quite as musical. They appear in small flocks. Other varieties of sparrows I cannot mention in one short paper. The discussion ol the merits and demerits of the English Sparrow I will leave to others. My private judgment is that it is doing us more good than harm. The Golden Robin, commonly called Baltimore Oriole, comes to us about the 15th of May. The name Baltimore was given it because of the resemblance of its coat to that of Lord Baltimore of Maryland* It is a well-known summer visitor, both for the brilliant orange color of its livery, and for its strange, sweet and powerful song that it continues to sing more or less during the summer. It inhabits North America, from Canada to Mexico. The Oriole is capable of singing an exhaustive melody of great variety and beauty, but it is apt to confine itself to but few notes. It usually suspends its long, hanging nest from the top of a high tree or limb. In the town it selects any material most handy, like cord, bits of cloth, yarn, cotton and wool for the outer cover- ing ; the lining is made soft with hair. The city nests are not as beautiful and symmetrical as the country ones, as the nests of the latter are made of a strong fibre, net unlike hemp, lined with hair. It exhibits in this nest workmanship most rare and wonderful. In the south the nests differ from the northern ones. They are made of Spanish moss, which is attache 1 at both ends to the forks in a branch, then weaving the moss in opposite directions until a hammock like nest is produced. The Orchard Oriole is not as large as the Baltimore. Its color is a dingy yellow and olive. It seems to prefer a home near the water's edge. The song is various and most musical. Its nest is not a true hanging nest. It is deep, cup-shaped, too shallow to conceal its occupant. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak comes with the Cat-bird and Oriole. The head is black, tail dark, breast rose colored. In some parts of Minnesota this is the bird most commonly seen ; but with us it is comparatively rare. Perhaps in the future we shall ses more of 204 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. it, as it is said to be changing its location. Audubon places this bird very high in his li-t of minstrels. The song begins like the Cat-bird's, then rushes into a flood of melody, falls into warblings, echos and trills that are indescribable. It is highly prized as a cage bird. Philip Deihl, a German naturalist of ]\Iadison, cages many of the wild birds of this species, for which he finds ready sale at ten dollars each. He has also succeeded in raising young ones in captivity. These birds show remarkable skill and intelli- gence in nest building, for the} 7 bend twigs by biting the inner side from end to end. The Cat bird or Northern Mocking Bird frequents town as well as country. It is a dark colored bird, always in motion. It comes the middle of May. He is at first shy, but should you desire it, you can be on delightfully intimate terms with him be- fore the summer is over, for he will hover near you, sing to you, and bathe with the Eobin in the wooden bowl almost at your feet. A p'lir of Cat-birds have built nests in our garden for several years. One year while the nest was being constructed, we watched the little house builders with silent wonder and delight. They twittered and sung in most perfect happiness all day long. On moonlight nights we could hear sweet whispers and murmurs from one to another, at times during the entire night. We assist- ed the enterprising little pair in their work by dropping bits of string, cloth, paper, etc., on the ground. They eagerly seized everything when the colors were dark or light; if we left bits of color like red, yellow or blue, they were not picked up, for reason or instinct taught them that in display there was danger. One dead limb on the upper part of the tree has been the chosen spot for the evening vesper song for several years. When our min- strel returns in the spring and sings again from his favorite branch, we feel indeed that the absent one is home again. He often sings with such rapture and abandon that the song continues as he takes flight from one tree to another. One year when the fema'e was sitting upon the nest, the cat stole in upon her and killed her. The mate came home, called and sung most sweetly, but could get no response. He continued his song and cries for several days, then flew away and returned with a new mate, and all went The Birds of the Garden. 205 well again. The Cat-birds are greatly attached to their young, and will fight desperately for them if danger appioaches. Many parts of the Cat-bird's song is wonderfully sweet and melodious. For he imitates the Oriole, Bluebird, Bobolink and other birds, besides singing his own sweet, powerful lay. But alas! alas ! for the imperfect life of bird and flower ; the thorn must appear with the rose, and discord with melody. The Cat-bird often gives in place of his sunny song only the cry of the cat and the filing of the saw, when the love making is over. The Brown Thrush or Mavis is a bird occasionally seen in our gar- dens, but he takes most naturally to fields and woods. He is re- lated to the Robin. His color is light brown, with a tinge of cinnamon. He is a shy bird, and if you get sight of him, it is as he dodges from bush to fence in such a stealthy manner that you fancy he has been in mischief. When he sings, he flies upon the highest limb of the tree, and there pours forth a strong, rich, in- tricate warble, that not uncommonly lasts an hour. His notes " They melt upon the ear, they float away, They rise, they sink, they hasten thy delay, And hold the listener with bewitching song, Like sounds from heaven." For he ranks, as singer, first among our northern birds. The Bobolink is the great song bird of the east, where it is heard constantly in orchard and meadow. In this vicinity it is not a common bird, although his song is not infrequently heard. With us he seems to take naturally to low lands. He comes in a coat of black and white, that changes, before the season is over, to dark gray. His song is very musical and merry. He is the great solo singer among the birds. Washington Irving gives a beautiful description of the Bobolink, and addresses him in the words of Logan : " Sweet bird ! thy bower is ever green, Thy sky is ever clear ; Thou hast no sorrow in tby note, No winter in thy year. " Oh ! could I fly, I'd fly with thee ; We'd make, on joyful wing, Our annual visit round the globe — Companions of the spring." 206 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. The Eed eyed Vireo and Warbling Vireo are small, brown, in- teresting little birds, that frequent our towns and villages. Their sweet little warbling songs begin with the dawn, and are contin- ued during the day. I scarcely remember an hour of the past summer that I did not hear the song of " Brigadier, brigadier, bring it," under my window. Many times they would pursue flies so eagerly, and so near us, that we would feel the rustle of their wings as they passed by. The nests are beautifully constructed, of fine materials. The White eyed Vireo is called the Politician, because in the texture of its nest it uses pieces of newspaper. A nest in my possession has on one side a blue postage stamp, and on the other a scrap of newspaper, with the word " picnic," in capital letters, woven into it. The Scarlet Tanager is the most beautiful bird of the north. His body is of the most brilliant and glowing scarlet, wings and tail jet black. His preference is for woods and fields, but sometimes he remains in our towns and cities, or so near them that we get occasionally a glimpse of him, and hear his whistle, which is strong, plaintive, and musical. The Summer Yellow Birds, or American Goldfinch, are true wood warblers, known from the Arctic to the Gulf. The plum- age is a pale canary color, darkened with orange and black. If the young are caged, they take kindly to imprisonment, and often make valuable cage birds, for the song is one of great sweetness. The Wren frequents both country and town, but seems to prefer the latter. It is a favorite everywhere. Very little is known of its habits. It is a restless bird, always in motion; even when singing it has to flit about. It is a courageous fighting bird. A small box or hollow is a chosen place for its nest. The song is sweet and wonderfully strong for a bird of its size. It begins on a high, sharp key, then suddenly fails to a sweet murmuring song, that ascends again and ends with a rapid trill. The song of the Pewee, or Phebe, is well known to us all. It is a small, brown bird that seems to prefer solitude or dark shady retreats, where it repeats its only song of "phebe," "phebe," from dawn to dark. " So plainly expressive of sadness is thi8 peculiar note that it is difficult to beiieve that the little being that utters it can be free from sorrow." The Birds of the Gabdex. 207 The voiceless Humming birds always come among us as wel- come visitors. We have but two varieties in this state, as they properly belong to the sunny south. The one most frequently seen is the ruby throated. They are sby, and when startled fly as swift, or swifter, than the wind. The American Shrike, or Butcher Bird, ought to be better known throughout the length and breadth of the land. Horticultural people should mark it and make a special effort to destroy it, for it is the great destroyer of our birds. " It is said to possess the fac- ulty of imitating the notes of other birds, especially such as are indicative of distress, which it does no doubt for the purpose of decoying them within its reach, then dart suddenly into the thicket and bear off the body of some deluded victim." They ap- pear in small flocks, many remaining, others going north. They are birds of good size, color mostly gray or maltese, with wings and head coal black, breast maltese color and white. The Blue Jay is one of our best known garden birds. It be- longs exclusively to North America. It is a beautiful bird of azure blue, relieved by black, white and cinnamon color. Its brilliant plumage, large size, attractive form, shrill cry and rest- less activity renders it prominent over the northern states. The Blue Jay is not usually a sweet singer, but during June and July some of its notes are delightfully sweet. The song that it most delights in is a sharp, shrill cry, which it utters from morning until night both summer and winter. We admire the beauty of the Blue Jay and love to see it in the garden in winter when the other birds are away, for it gives a bit of color and life to the winter landscape that is refreshing; but we must with candor say that he ought to be nearly or wholly exterminated, for he, like his cousin, the Butcher Bird, is a pirate and marauder. He breaks the eggs of other birds, and destroys all the young ones he can find. I have often seen him on the trees picking the bones of young spar- rows and other birds. In summer we often hear a great clamor among the birds as they defend themselves and young ones from the murderous claws of the Blue Jay. He often hovers near his victims for several days, when at last he springs upon them un- awares. The severity of our winters seem to be but little felt by 208 Wisconsin State Hobticultural Society. the Blue Jay, for he is seldom found frozen. The suffering for food would be great in winter did not nature prompt this bird to provide for his winter wants. In autumn he deposits in hollows, thickets, fence corners, barns, and other convenient places, food for winter. Winter Birds — Even wintsr with its desolate ice and snow is made more pleasant and endurable by the bright and merry birds. Troops of Cedar birds, Titmice, Wood-peckers, Snow birds, Cross-bills, Blue-jays. Snow Bunting.*, Pine Finches, Red Polls, etc., come among us at different times during the season. Several varieties of Wood-peckers winter in this latitude. They are most curious and interesting birds. When Wilson, the ornithologist, arrived in this country, he saw for the first time the Red headed Wood-pecker, which he shot and considered it the most beautiful bird that he had ever beheld. The Chickadee, or Titmice, are well known winter birds, that come in flocks. A pair of small brown Wood- peckers, called Brown Creepers, always accompany them. The little Chickadee chatters, chirrups and sings in the most happy manner, even though the cold be biting, and zero reigns around him. The Tit- mouse, like its cousin the Wren, is an active, brave, intelligent bird. The one with which we are most familiar, is the Black- capped Titmouse. I had one of those black throated, black- capped little visitors in my parlor last winter that delighted and entertained us with his cunning little ways from morning until night. When I wrote he walked over my paper and perched upon my inkstand, cracked his seed upon the arm of my chair, and whistled most merrily. This dear little creature was a stranger from an unknown land. I knew nothing of his haunts and but little of his habits. Although he weighed no more than an ounce, he had as much individuality as the mammoth elephant. Reason, can it be called instinct, had taught him to husband his food, for winter consumes rather than produces, and in the folds of a curtain, behind a leaf, or in a book, a choice bit of food was preserved for the future. He held the hemp seed between his feet, and pounded away until the shell was broken. He ate no sweets, preferred butter, tallow and rich nuts; cracked a hazel The Birds of the Garden. 209 nut with his bill, bathed in a dish of snow, sang four songs, not strong but sweet, and whistles divinely, and when evening came, his reason directed him to creep into a chosen corner under a leaf, for warmth and shelter, where he hid his head under his wing until morning. In the spring with much sorrow and sadness we decided to let our Arctic bird follow his instincts and inclinations and fly away with companions north if he desired to do so ; therefore the win- dow was opened and liberty was his. He flew from bush to tree, bathed in a little bank of snow and sang and whistled to his heart's content. But when the shades of night began to gather, the home feeling came over him and he flew through the window to his chosen place in the bay window. Again he was given his liberty; this time he lingered for a couple of days in the garden, coming in and out of the house at our call. At last he sang us a parting song, and then took flight into the great world. We are confidently expecting his return in the winter: should he come again he will be welcomed with lejoicing; but should he never come again, our hearts will ever go out in gratitude to the little stranger of the winter, that brought nothing but joy, grace and harmony into a household. The Titmice are exclusively northern birds; they range from the Arctic sea to Maryland; never further south I believe. It has been estimated by ornithologists that not one in ten of the young birds hatched come to maturity. Let us who love birds be guardians of them, and do what we can to protect them. If it be necessary to make laws to do so, let that be done; and if heedless men and boys slaughter and bag tens of thousands of Robins, as they did at the great Robin roost in Kentucky last winter, bring them to an account for it, and imprison or otherwise punish them, for the loss to the whole country is irreparable. Let us teach the boys that to kill the birds with a sling shot, or in sport, is a sin ; rather teach them to love, protect and study them, and if specimens of eggs are desired, to take a part of the eggs without robbing the nest. A few years ago our beautiful capitol park was alive with the rarest of songsters; but now, alas ! the 14 — Hort. 210 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. squirrels are fast superseding them, for the squirrel is the bird'3 enemy, and they cannot thrive together. No study is more delightful!} 7 interesting than that of our native birds. In the spring, every day brings with it rare strangers from the south, some only for a few days, others to remain during the season, and to be able to know and name them as they come is a pleasure most rare and sweet. Maurice dt Guirin says : "The birds come and go and make nests around our habitations ; they are fellow citizens of our farms and hamlets with us ; but they take their flight in a heaven which is boundless. The hand of God alone measures to them their daily food, but they build their nests in the heart of the thick bushes, or hang them on the height of the trees. So would I too live, hovering around society, and having always at my back a field of liberty vast as the sky." THE LITTLE FOLKS OF HOUSE AND FARM. By Mrs. C. F. Brown, Appleton. Nature is a great economist. Unwilling that any of her mill- ion spaces should remain unpeopled, or her vast resources unused, she has filled every nook and corner of her broad domain with her marvelous creations. Science, the angel of her apocalypse, has loosed the seal, and the divine volume lies open, so that almost he who runs may read; nay, better than this, he who earns his bread by the sweat of his brow, whether on the low lands of common toil, or, as a quarry man, breaking the granite boulders on the rugged hillsides of Scotland, may find, "The Footprints of the Creator." The mere novice adjusts his micro- scope and looks down to the very rudiments of protoplasmic life? learns to trace the gradations of existence from the infusoria up to the close, fine fiber of highly organized animal life. He pauses wonderingly before the higher orders of animals, admires the swift-footed hero of the racecourse, as he stands with quivering Hanks and thin, sensitive nostrils, and eyes deep and human as the eyes that love him. His small head is poised on the arched neck, that spreads broad and glossy into the powerful breast, and shoulders which taper into the strong arms, and slender, sinewy The Little Folks of House and Farm. 211 shanks tipped with the polished hoof that spurns the ground as " he paweth in the valley and rejoiceth in his strength." Curve and motion and trembling outline, are but the outward flashes of the fire and haughty spirit drawn from a hundred royal sires. Ah, Middy Morgan, no wonder you forgot to love the master in your worship of his steed ! The higher organisms of animal life seem almost to touch the human ; and though instinct and reason may not quite clasp hands, they stand near enough to hear each other's call, and reach out to meet each other's needs. All along our pathway, dumb, patient creatures look up to ns with eyes that have in them much that our wisdom can comprehend. There are sightless beings that crawl at our feet, and their very writhing suggests to the reverent soul the infinite spirit which is only lightly veiled by " the things that are seen." To more than one " philosopher of the breakfast table" has the "Divine order " been revealed by the tints of the beetles, or the mailed wings of the coleoptera, and Count de Charney, of French prison story, was neither the first nor the last to whom Picciola, the simple flower, has revealed a faith in the immortal and eternal. The demons of selfishness and unbelief and hate have been exorcised by the fulfillment of the prophecy, " A little child shall lead them." Ah, nature is divine ! She knows just where to place every one of her multifold crea- tions. She is never obliged to adjust and fit and trim, for all her works are correlated. She understands the needs of human hearts as well as the power of human hands, giving to the former that which makes them brave and tender, to tbe latter, that which renders them helpful and strong. Her plans may be thwarted, but not through her own mistakes; sometimes through human ignorance and sin ; and the little ones of house and farm, whether they wear fur or feathers, or the coat of many colors which affec- tion weaves for its dearest born, are just as much a part of the divine order as the revolution of the planets or the circuit of the sun. Nature knows just what the little ones of house and farm will do for us, and herself the teacher of that sweet theology, " He prayeth best who loveth best all things, both great and small," she gives us every spring a new bequest of life and innocence, in 212 Wisconsin State Hobticultural Society. the soft white lambs of the meadow, the pretty, large eyed young of the kine, and the fluffy broods of the farm yard, to siy nothing of the gentle race of flower folk that breathe their fragrance upon our pathway and lift their lovely faces to gladden and refine our homes. Nature reveals herself to the pure in heart, and often imparts a second sight to the lowly, who have never learned the alphabet of science. In some silent, mysterious way, they seem to comprehend the language of her poor, dumb creatures. Who has not seen tire living personification of the poet's fancy? " A still old man, with grizzled beard, Grey eye, bent shape, and rugged features, His quiet footstep is not feared By shyest woodland creatures. " He hides within his simple b r ain All instincts innocent and holy, The music of the wood-bird's strain, Not blithe nor melancholy. " He knows the moods of woodland things, He holds in his own speechless fashion For helpless forms of fur and wings, A mild paternal passion. " Within his horny hands he holds The warm brood of the ruddy squirrel ; The bushy mother storms and scolds, But knows no sense of peril. "The dormouse shares his crumb of cheese, His homeward trudge the rabbits follow ; He finds in angles of the trees The cup nest of the swallow. " Our science and our empty pride, Our busy dream of introspection, To God seem poor and vain beside This dumb, sincere reflection." Nature is a patient teacher, and if out of her great story-book we learn so many beautiful things about her four-footed children and our little neighbors with fur and feather ■>, that make our woods and fields jubilant with clatter and with song, what sacred lessons will she not teach us of the little ones who are flesh of our flesh and The Little Folks of House and Farm. 213 soul of our soul. The question, how to rear and educate these small men and women that come welcome or unwelcome, as well to the palatial ciiy home as to the most humble and remote farm house, is one of absorbing interest. One writer says, if you would educate a man, you must begin with his grandmother. While this may be somewhat discouraging to the literary hopes of those who are not so fortunate as to have had educated grandmothers, it ought to rouse every woman who has prospective grandchildren in the near or remote future, to send down through its legitimate avenues all the culture — intellectual, moral and spiritual — that she can acquire. " But," say some, " we are grown women already ; we are farmers', or mechanics', or merchants', or lawyers' wives; we are mothers ; our school days are ended; we finished our some- what limited education years ago." Dear sister, there is an edu- cation that is never finished, the only true education that hungers for its daily food and thirsts for its daily drink. Education is not acquired in the schools — only a larger capacity for education ; and one may have all that the schools can give him, and if he failed to build on this foundation the beautiful structure of after- culture, he will never be educated. We need the firm foundation and broader outlook that the schools and colleges give us, but he who has neither by nature or acquisition that something higher than these, will find himself outstripped in the race by his less favored brother, who has fresh and warm within him the real love of knowledge. Give this priceless jewel to every mother in the land, and we may say : " Rest the ashes of our grandmothers. Our sons and daughters will grow up pure, and wise, and good." Even the weary mother of the farm children will find that where there is a determined will there is a way, and by using, little by little, the opportunities of improvement that come to her, will ac- quire to herself the power of reaching and appropriating greater ones. It is scarcely reasonable to expect our children to grow up models of excellence unless we ourselves are, in some sense, exponents of the beautiful precepts we strive to inculcate. A very .young mother once said of her child, "I want him to grow up wise and intellectual and good. How shall I accomplish my desire?" "Be so yourself," said a gentle, white-haired woman 214 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. by her side; and judging from what we have read of that mother and son we think the advice was followed. If we would have our children love their homes and desire to stay in them until age and the necessity of making a way in the world draws their reluctant steps from the sacred fireside, we must make ourselves and our homes attractive for their sakes. Y/e must keep our hearts young enough to sympathize with their pur- suit*, understand their sorrows and enjoy their recreations, and our heads wise enough to preserve their respect. It is not wealth alone that makes the most attractive homes. Many sons go out nightly from homes of elegance and beauty into scenes of de- bauchery and death ; but some of us look back, perhaps, to a low farm-house in the heart of New England, at th? foot of the Penn- sylvania mountains, or on an Ohio hillside, and our hearts grow tender and our eyes grow moist as the old, sweet influence holds us still. There were no rich carpers on the floors perhaps ; no costly pictures on the wall, but the mother of the household had an in- nate sen?e of harmony and the fitness of things, and her magic touch seemed to transform hard, common things into comfort and beauty ; and the low walls were glorified by something that wealth cannot give. One eirnest, refined soul can do more to make a home than all that wealth can command without it. Physical habit and moral character are so closely allied that they cannot be considered separately, and both are largely in the hands of the mother. Children shou'd be taught early to respect their bodies ; they should be taught physiological law and the habits of right living, and that " he who sins willfully against his body, as truly sins against God as he who breaks one of the ten commandments," and yet many otherwise good parents are mar- velously ignorant of the physical habits of their children, after they are old enough to take care of themselves. Are not some mothers greatly responsible for the debauched and unholy lives their children lead, as a result of wrong habits early formed ? There should be such an intimacy between every mother and her child that she should know what his physical habits are until such time a^, fortified by principle, he can be depended upon to act purely and honorably in all the details of living. The Little Folks of House and Farm. 215 Another point, and one which has hitherto been touched lightly lest the modest public should hold up its hands in holy horror, is this : There should be that mutual confidence in mother and child, that when he is old enough to question and comprehend them, he should have nature's sacred mysteries of life from the pure lips of his own mother, and not be left to recpive them from vulgar and unholy lips, so distorted with demoralizing ideas that his whole life may be soiled and poisoned thereby. What a heritage of shame and sorrow we may spare to our beloved, if we act sensibly and truthfully, trusting in the guidance of Him who in the morn- ing of the years, pronounced all his works " very good." Let us teach the little folks of house and farm that temperance is corporeal piety, ''the preservation of the divine order in the body, the harmony of all the members thereof, the true symmetry of part with part, or as one has said, 'the worship of God with every limb of the body.' ' Temperance is of two kinds: modera- tion in the use of right things, and total abstinence in the use of wrong things. Temperance in the use of bread is moderation; temperance in the use of strong drink is total abstinence. If we were discussing stimulants, we might say something about one in very common use, and we are sure we should not offend even those who indulge in the same, for we never remember to have heard an honest user of the " weed " discuss the habit, but he advised all who had not commenced this indulgence never to do so. We want the little folks of house and farm taught to keep the body and the soul clean. We like St. Paul. We believe he was a clean, neat man. He wasn't satisfied with advising us to have our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, but added " and our bodies washed with pure water." If he had lived after Sir Walter Raleigh, we feel sure he would have said something about sweet breaths and clean mouths. Strange that he did not antici- pate the weed. One writer says: "I never see a boy beginning to smoke or chew without trembling for his future. I ?ee that the highest possibilities of that boy's manhood may be lost, and though he may have the native strength to resist further evil, I know not a vice to which he is not rendering himself more sus- ceptible." It is urged that there are many good and upright men. 216 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. who use tobacco, and this is doubtless true, but the fact that there are few drunkards and scoundrels who do nol use it, bears its own comment. Next to tobacco as an evil, and one reaching a larger class, stands the use of condiments and highly seasoned foods. Only plain and natural food is demanded by a natural appetite, and such alone promotes health of body and mind in the highest de- gree. What we eat has much to do with what we think and do, and a man partakes of the nature of his food. We have not yet arrived at that stage of accuracy at which we can reduce Joseph Cook's Byology to so many pounds of well broiled beefsteak, or Huxley's Lay Sermons to so many dinners of salmon, or Long- fellow's tender, heartsome rhymes to the small fruits of the Cam- bridge garden ; yet it is nevertheless true that none of the above mentioned intellects subsist largely on side pork and sauer kraut. Gross food and over-eating are enemies to the health, beauty and activity of body, soul and spirit. Be temperate in all things, is- the first great commandment in the decalogue of virtue and talent. The mother who has fortified her children by simple tastes and pure habits of living, has prepared them for infinitely higher en- joyments, even at the table, than the Eoman Vitellius ever found in his thirty thousand varieties of game, and she has done more ; she has given to the world its highest ornaments in intellectual and spiritual strength. The sweet, pure bodies of such children will hold souls like unto them ; and when, from city home and country farm house, a generation shall arise that has learned to keep the body and the soul clean, the nation will be well governed, because, " putting away all fi!thiness of the flesh and spirit," men have learned to govern themselves. Floriculture; its Influence in the Home. 217 "FLORICULTURE; ITS INFLUENCE IN THE HOME." By Mrs. Dr. Ayres, of Green Bay. What is the use of flowers? Probably there is no one who is ac- customed to the cultivation of plants, watching them as they leave, and bad, and bloom, with as deep an interest as if we not only watched, but made them grow. Who has not been asked this ques- tion, and that, too, in a variety of tones, with great diversity of ex- pression. The answer is not always given with decision. It seems to us so strange that every one does not know, that we hesitate, say they are equally useful with other beautiful things, and urged to particularize, at last, perhaps give no reason but that of, why we like them. Now, I wish to assert most uncompromisingly, that flowers have a value; and that not only to look pretty. We thoroughly enjoy a beautiful sunset, but it fades away, and save for the momentary raising of our thoughts in adoration of Him to whom "the clouds are as dust under his feet," the sky might still wear its winter gray and our lives would suffer no loss. Flowers are an essential part of nature's economy. From the tiny flowerets joining the red snow of the Alps, feeding the still tinier insect life which waited for their coming, to the brilliant, gorgeous bloom of tropical plants, each has its own individual duty to perform. Clothed in robes of delicacy, fragrance and beauty, they do the work for which they were created, eagerly drinking up from the soil the moisture received there, through the roots; they throw it off again by the leaves, thus giving freshness and dewiness to the air, gathering up the carbonic acid necessary to their own life, and giving out the oxygen needed by ours, while the close proximity of trees to our dwellings is carefully to be avoided, by reason of their throwing more dampness into th^ atmosphere than is needed. The more flowers around our houses the better, both indoors and out, always provided that they are in a thoroughly healthy state; and for this reason any one passing at least an hour a day in the open air, in suitable weather, etc., among the house- plants in the cold season, may have a reasonable hope of enjoying better health than those who have no such resource. It has been suggested as one means of securing pure air in city homes, that a small conservatory should have pipes leading to each room, thus 21S Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. carrying oxygen where needed. I am afraid the inventor is in the plumbing interest, as a few plants, where light and heat could reach them, would answer the purpose. The very crying out of nature for her own life-laden treasures proves her dependence on them; the eager delight of the sick, aged and children, deprived, to some extent, of flowers, on receiving them as gifts, prove them to be not only pleasing to the eye, but an actual physical want. Surely they are needed for the perfect health of our bodies. True refinement is generally accompanied by a love of the beau- tiful; in fact it is one of its proofs and vouchers. It is not neces- sary to be rich or idle to be refined; neither can it proceed from cultivation of mind or manner alone. It is certain that a degree of civilization has reached the paganism of Japan, and the love and cultivation of plant life is one of its surest evidences. Who that visited the Japanese gardens at the Centennial, but will remember the primness of the little trees, the extreme neatness of the edg- ings, and the retiring gentleness, if I may so speak, of the flowers, as if apologising for being on foreign soil. Our German population bring with them flower seeds and bulbs. They are a lifelong love to them. Twin-born with their devotion to music, they have helped to make the national character. Whether in their homes, their grounds or in " God's acre,"' they cultivate and hold dear the bright flowers of their fatherland. Bonnie Elngland, too, speaks through her own peculiar plants to the hearts of her absent children — violets, daisies, primroses, honeysuckles, roses — an innumerable throng, gather themselves to heart and memory. England's greatest poet puts into words the sad, mournful notes which a flower can sing: "There's a daisy; I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died." France has her lilies and her magnificent provinces of roses, while Scotia and Erin point to heath and shamrock, and show each with pride. Our home flowers are as fair as those of any clime. From the beautiful woods of the north to the orange oroves and mao-nolias of the south, the trailing arbutus (sweet herald of spring) and the green lily of California, rare specimens, and common winsome but- tercups, an endless variety, meeting the wants of the most enthusi- astic lover of floriculture and the simple taste which revels in the Floriculture; its Influence in the Home. 219 " love of the woods." They come to us, the God-given messengers of cheerfulness, in our homes, setting us the bright example of do- ing the very best we can, under the most adverse circumstances. They teach of him who bade us " consider the lilies, how they grow," and are an ever-varying source of interest and enjoyment. On some fair spring morning, just after a rain, carefully draw within your little girl's flower bed the letters of her name, plant t hem with candy tuft, mignonette, or any other sure-growing seed; wait until some day she sees it come up, green and fresh. You will give her a lesson on the improbability of chance which will never be forgotten. It is often said that the time needed for the care of house plants might be used to better purpose; that the daily watchfulness required by them, if given to some other object, might be produc- tive of nobler results. Perhaps it is so in some cases, but as every person requires some recreation, some interest, apart from and superior to the petty cares and trials of every day life, the cultiva- tion of what adds cheerfulness and brightness to our homes fills this need to many; and floriculture should not tend to selfishness. There are always those to whom a boquet, a plant or cutting given, will bring pleasure. Our floral treasures will be doubly precious to us if shared with others. A wreath of lovely but home culti- vated flowers, laid on the coffin of a poor, neglected child, called forth from the mother a cry, " I will never forget those." Her mind, roused to action, saw as in a vision when she too loved flowers. She felt her present state of degradation, and resolved to be once more a respected woman. She influenced her husband to change their mode of life, and when I last heard of her she was respectable. I trust these societies will continue their educational and refining work, until every farmer will see the need of a flower garden; will have a few pennies for seeds to brighten his home, and cheer the tired eyes of those that dwell therein, when the floweret shall open the door for music, and all innocent pleasures which shall tend to refine his family and himself. I would fain believe that those who have been favored with the means to obtain all which shall gratify their taste in floriculture will gladly share and give of their abun- dance to those who have not, so that no home shall be without the ornaments of nature's own producing, which have been given to our keeping. Interest once raised on the subject, magazines on 22.0 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. flower culture, newspaper columns devoted to the theme, the florist catalogues which come to us so freely, will become sources of in- formation. Some seed of a flower hitherto unknown to us will bring a degree of excited watching for the Moom, positively amus- irjg to a disinterested looker on. Let these things win for them- selves a place in the home, and they will gradually weed out the trashy reading which is doing so much to educate for the reform school and the penitentiary, and make our girls silly, discontented and idle, instead of the noble, disinterested, useful women which our homes and our country need. May each one of us, giving influence and interest according to our opportunities, be enabled to do something towards bringing into every home the sweet lessons and enjoyment of flower life. For He who made the violet, and every floweret fair, Thinks not unworthy His great power to give His holy care; Protect the life from year to year which blooms and blossoms there. Mr. Field said he had been very much interested in the papers just read by the ladies, and wished they could be heard by a much larger number of our farmers, for he was confident they would be benefited by them. He very much regretted that we had so small an attendance of ladies at our meetings, except at the session set apart for their papers. At our meetings below, the number present was very small, from one to five at the most, and often none at all. Cm we not, in some way, induce them to- come? The Grange is the only organization where the ladies are in the habit of attending regularly. They may not be excluded from others, but they do not seem inclined to attend. Every Grange in the state should be represented at these meetings by delega'es of husbands and the:r wives. Other industrial organi- zations make special efforts, and are at a good deal of expense to- secure a representation of their local societies, at conventions held to advance the interests of their special business, and there is no reason why farmers and all who are engaged in tilling the soil should not meet in the same way, and consult for their own inter- ests. The Agricultural Societies and Granges should see that this was done, even if they had to pay the expenses of the delegates. The Ideal and the Real ix Horticulture. 221 Mr. Philips bad been very much pleased with the papers ; he thought they grew better from year to year. They were not only interesting and instructive, but were of great value, and we would all do well to carry home the truths here expressed, and practice them ; it would tend not on^ to make ourselves and families more happy, but would add to our usefulness and prosperity in many ways. He had of late years attended similar conventions held in other states, but had not heard a paper read by a lady, or seen a lady present at any meeting except our own. He could heartily indorse all that has been said in commendation of the papers, and was sure that all would join in thanking the ladies for the kind interest they had taken in our work, and for the aid they had given us. He for one would like to have these papers distributed through the session so as to secure the attendance of the ladies at all of our meetings, but was very glad to have them even here. Senator Arnold moved that the thanks of the convention be given to the ladies for the interesting papers they had presented to us. Carried. On motion of Mr. Kellogg, they were also made honorary an- nual members of the State Horticultural Society. THE IDEAL AND THE REAL IN HORTICULTURE. By B. F. Adams, Madison. A garden is supposed to be a beautiful place where grow the choicest flowers, vegetables and fruits, laid out with regularity and cultivated with the greatest care and skill. Poets, when they view such a spot, feel inspired ; the lovers of the beautiful in nature and art go into ecstasies over the scene, and express a de- sire to possess such a charming place. The more studious and thoughtful man of business or professional expert, speculates on such sordid matters as cost, and makes an estimate of the extent to which clean cultivation may be profitably carried. He is the man who, though susceptible to the poetry of a garden, is also imbued with that of practical matters, and when he visits an acquaintance who has cultivated a garden for ten years or more, 222 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. and does not see any signs of wealth, only evidences of toil and perhaps a comfortable living, he easily concludes not to serve an apprenticeship at the business in exchange for his present lucrative occupation. Some of our horticultural literature of the times is the produc- tion of men who have had very limited experience in practical gardening, but they write well and give the public some useful information. It is not absolutely essential that a man toil him- self, if he has the education and culture, to write vigorous edi- torials on the delightful occupation of horticulture, duly men- tioning the old settlers, Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden, and especially portraying the charms of the modern garden so admirably that many, poorly fitted by nature to make gardens look charming, feel an irresistible desire to engage in such a de- lightful pursuit. The greatest fault of such productions is the rosy tint that is given to every phase of the business. Enthusi- astic converts to the science of horticulture are often men who read and believe more than is profitable, and with heads crammed with the ideal of the same, feel prepared to begin a garden that will rival others from the outset. The choicest fruits, the earliest and best vegetables, the greatest novelties, are all wanted so eagerly that they sometimes become credulous victims of sharp dealers. The love of the marvelous often overlooks common practical expedients in horticulture, and to illustrate this I will mention the experiment of two neighb >rs, whose moral ideas had been ele- vated and strengthened by reading "My Summer in a Garden;" those of profit, by " Ten Acres Enough," and seeing some illus- trated advertisements of rare and wonderful fruits, secretly con- cluded each to buy one plant of a famous foreign variety of fruit, which, whatever merit it possessed in its native soil, was worthless here. The price was extravagant, but they reasoned that a gar- den should have the best in the world. Being together one day, one of them, unable longer to hold his secret venture, told his neighbor what he had done, and that after four weeks of the best care, his wonderful plant, to use his expression, " had winked out." Judge of his surprise when told by the other that he had also The Ideal and the Real in Hoeticultcbe. 223 bought and lost a plant of the same kind, but he had beaten him two weeks as to time. A few auch trials have a tendency to modify ideas of an ideal garden more in accordance with climate and conditions, but the ideal man generally must be humored in contemplating a garden in its broadest sense, and take in about all the fruits, vegetables and trees of a zone until the great major- ity are eliminated by heat, cold, drouth or soil unadapted to their growth. He reasons also, that his broad views and. the labor expended in a garden should bring an ample return ; but while cultivating the soil, perhaps some detail, absolutely essential to produce satisfactory results, is not attended to at the proper time. Trimming, pruning and thinning may be wholly neglected, the fruit trees become bushy, the vines too tangled, the vegetables too crowded in the rows ; watchfulness may be lax, and before suspected, the worms may be on the cur- rant bushes, the birds among the cherries, the grubworm and leaf-roller in the strawberry plantation, bugs on the potato vines, mildew on the grapes, canker worm and codling moth in the apple trees, curculios on the plums, and the blight on the pear trees. When this state of things exists in a plantation, business distracts the owner; profoundly impressed with the idea that something must be done quickly, he puts hellebore on his currant bushes after the worms have had a prolonged feast; Paris green on the potato vines after they are mostly eaten; cotton bands five inches wide around his apple trees after the moths are up in the branches ; takes them off to hunt these insect , but does not find any, and logically concludes that they have jumped over the bands and loses faith in that remedy; jars his plum trees until the green plums drop freely, but not seeing any curculios, doubts the utility of this operation; empties a barrel of salt around the roots of his pear trees and daubs the trunks and limbs with linseed oil, but the blight progresses. Later he overhauls his agricultural newspaper to read Prof. Burrillon pear blight, looks in his dictionary for the definition of bacteria, mentioned by him as the cause, and begins to doubt whether he has given his pear trees the right treatment. The leaf roller and grub worm have made havoc with the straw- berry crop, and put him to his wits' end to stop it; again he con- 224 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. sult^ authorities, and when be finds fire recommended, wonders how he ean burn his plantation and save it. To protect his ripen- ing cherries he spends a day in putting several elaborate scare- crows in the trees to frighten the birds away, but gets angry next morning while observing a flock of sweet voiced robins perched on those same fixtures eating cherries. It is proper to state that after having spent two weeks in dosing his plants and trees with various treatments, his ideal of a perfect garden is all torn in pieces. To add to his discomfiture, while he has been fighting insect enemies, rains have been frequent, and the weeds have mul- tiplied among the onions, beets, carrots and cabbages, and on the latter a mean worm is visible, another plague; these weeds loom up in formidable numbers, cover the alleys and hide the flower beds from view. In despair he concludes that either the season is very unfavorable for gardening or else he has mistaken his calling ; certainly horticulture covers more ground and has more variety than he supposed; thinks that somebody is to blame for suffering so many pests to get a foothold in the country. In this idea he may be partially correct. Co-operative efforts by neighborhoods are the best means of warring against the pests that destrov our fruits and vegetables. A single individual of untir- ing industry and vigilance can do much on his own ground in holding them in check ; but could a like combined effort be made by a community, the labor, losses and disappointment from such sources would be diminished a hundred fold. What permanent relief does a man gain who works and watches his garden, if his neighbor over the fence suffers his to be a central depot of all the pests in the country ? Potatoes are regarded by the masses as one of the essentials for food — all other vegetables and fruit are not so considered, though greatly relished by multitudes; hence the whole population can easily be induced to use a simple remedy to destroy the vermin that prey on this crop, but not one person in a hundred will devote much thought or energy to kill the pests that ruin other vegetables and fruit. It remains then for a small class of horticulturists to devise the best means they can to protect their own, and interest the public in this matter, and awaken more gen- eral activity in staying the ravages of our insect foes. The Ideal and the Real in Hobticulture. 225 The ideal results of horticultural occupation are often in ad- vance of facts. The labor of years in this pursuit, if well directed, may reasonably be expected to yield some return ; but the draw- backs are so numerous that, especially here in the northwest, dis- aster frequently overtakes success even in our most fruitful seasons. An immense apple crop was grown last season, but how few, comparatively, have realized any profit therefrom, especially in Wisconsin. The best fall apples were sold for ten cents per bushel, and many given away freely. Some people complained of these prices, they always do when products are abundant. It was often remarked we have too many fall apples, too few cider mills and fruit driers. Only the expert, whose orchard had a good percentage of winter fruit, has the chance of realizing from last year's crop, and his profits may be small. Speaking of profit, I am inclined to think that in years of general failure in fruit crops the fruit grower realizes his greatest returns; certainly he often has choice fruit when others have none. The exercise of sound judgment in determining the vegetable crops of a garden, and the quantity of each it is desirable to produce in a season, in view of the probable market value, is of the greatest importance. Successful operations in horticulture are more frequently chroni- cled than failures, and beginners do not often see mistakes until reminded by disastrous experience. Some years ago a novice embarked quite extensively in market gardening where the local market was not extensive. His garden was well cultivated and his crops good. His estimate was that his onions, three acres, would certainly pay all expenses of the garden, leaving his immense crop of beets, carrots, cabbages, and some strawberries, for margins. Onions had for several years pre- vious been tending downward in price, but he paid no attention to that fact. They were a drug in market that season, and, after much tribulation, the bulk of the crop was shipped to a southern city, with the confident expectation that when the freedmen began to nibble those onions a quick sale would be the result; but after a long delay returns came in the shape of a request for a remit- tance of forty dollars to cover expenses of transportation, commis- sion, etc. This result struck our friend as forcibly as a sudden 15 — Hort. 226 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. kick of a mild tempered cow, sprawling the milker on the ground and spilling all the milk, and put him in much the same exas- perated frame of mind. If he had been compelled to write a treatise at that time, it would have contained warnings against raising onions, with the suggestive title "Three Acres Enough." But this was not the only mishap. Cabbages were plenty and the price low. A part of that crop was made into sauerkraut, on the supposition that somewhere in this broad land the Germans would become purchasers; but the universal reply to correspond- ence on this subject was, " no demand." Finally it was offered to his cows, but they refused to eat cabbage in this form. His mar- gins were all swept away, and a balance of several hundred dollars appeared on the wrong side of the ledger. Probably he did better the next season, unlike some who buy experience at great cost, and are then no wiser for the outlay. It is a very common idea with people engaged in other business, living in the vicinity of cities and large villages, that if they were employed in our pursuits as tillers of the soil, they would weave into their practice such business principles that they would be- come at once shining examples for others to imitate, but we have seen some such men after having really undertaken the job, al- most as much embarrassed and disappointed in their operations before they got through their first season's work as a young man who thought he had a call to preach ; without preparation he en- tered the pulpit, in accordance with an old-time notion of some of his brethren relying on inspiration as a motive power to carry him through his first sermon. Opening the bible bap hazard, he se- lected a text with considerable confidence, but then becoming greatly embarrassed, he paused until drops of sweat stood thickly on his forehead. Finally, unable to proceed, he closed the book, with the sage remark : "My brethren, if any of you have got a call to preach, I wish you would come up into this pulpit and try it." Northwestern experience in fruit culture was more dearly pur- chased in early times than later. Nearly forty years ago a farmer from New York, living near Fort Atkinson, Wis., raised quite a crop of peaches and invited his widely scattered neighbors to a feast of The Ideal and the Real in Horticulture. 227 the fruit. They came and enjoyed it. They went home and planted peach stones from that orchard, but the young trees that grew were soon after killed and the original orchard never bore fruit again. The experiment, was repeated, again and again, years afterward. Twenty-eight years ago I saw a few peach trees loaded with peaches, in the town of Cottage Grove, Dane county, but have not seen a peach growing in Wisconsin since. People in that neighborhood planted peach stones from this orchard, andi some even sent to Rochester, New York, for tree?. All were killed. Our early apple orchards perished as rapidly. We plant now with greater care in selection, and some give better culture, but the public generally is prone to forget, during a period of mild sea- sons, the great fickleness of this climate, and plant half-hardy va- rieties of fruit. In the long catalogue of fruits, how few here can be considered reliable. Some will say a half dozen, others a dozen, apple trees, two or three pear trees, one or two cherry trees, a few p'um trees, a half dozen kinds of strawbeifies among a thousand ; of black raspberries the Doolittle, and that some- times kills badly; one or two kinds of red raspberries, and the same number, perhaps of blackberries ; a few varieties of grapes if well protected in winter, generally furnish good crops. But we are slowly making advances in fruit growing, in spite of climate and other adverse influences; probably a few realize some profit, but they have invariably worked long and persistently against many discouragements to secure this result. I would that every farmer in the land had taste and enterprise enough to take proper care of what plants and trees he buys and sets out, but I believe that one-half of all the orchards planted in Wisconsin are permitted to grow without special care or attention. For this condition of things farmers can render excuses. I am well aware of the multiplicity of cases, perplexities, anxieties and frequent disappointments that have beset many farmers' lives in this yet comparatively newly-settled region, but we are now en- tering that period of more stable- prosperity and growth in mate- rial wealth, that requires more diversified wants, and demands more extended intercourse, greater emulation, more cultivated tastes. The ideal of horticulture will be more fully realized when 228 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. the well-directed toil that works from the soil the means to procure the essentials of life, its luxuries and embellishments shall also be applied more generally, not only in planting flowers, fruit and or- namental trees, shrubbery and a vegetable garden, but caring yearly for each with that watchfulness and zeal that will secure satisfactory results, and make a homestead in the country what it should be — a place indicative of comfort, culture and refinement, a place where kindred can revel in enjoyment and on which a passing stranger can look with admiration. EUST OR MILDEW, ITS EFFECT ON" FRUIT AND GRAIN. By Geo. P. Peffek, Pewaukee. This is a subject in which we are all more or less interested, for our crops of fruit, grain, and even grapes, are exposed to injury from its* attacks. On account of this general interest, I would present here a few facts in relation to it, mainly the result of my observations the past season. In the first place, what is it ? I would briefly answer, that it is a fungoid growth, a development of masses of spores, springing from and feeding upon decaying vegetable tissues. We see that this growth or development in- creases in rapidity, as decay is accelerated by a high temperature and a humid condition of the atmosphere. This decaying sub- stance is to rust, what the soil is to seeds and roots, the source from which it draws its nourishment, its vitality. The past season has been a remarkable one in our state for the abundant crop of fruit raised ; all admit that it was the finest crop of fruit ever seen in Wisconsin. The crop was not only large, but for the most part fair in quality and perfect in form, but there were many orchards where the fruit (apples especially) and the leaves had dark, rusty looking patches or specks on them. In some instances whole orchards were affected the same; in others part of the varieties were affected and others not, and again the same varieties were not always affected alike in all parts of the same orchard. This shows that the cause is not wholly in the variety, though some kinds are doubtless more subject to it Rust or Mildew. 229 than others. Is it in the location, exposure, soil or climate? Each of these may have a tendency to promote it in different seasons and under certain conditions. The facts bearing on this subject, as drawn from observations the past season are, that up to the 11th of June everything was favorable for a healthy growth of tree and a large and fine crop of fruit. Up to this date the weather had been moderately warm, clear and dry, but at this time a change came, showers were fre- quent, the air was hot, and a hot wind set in from the south and southwest and blew hard all night, raising the thermometer to 90° in the day and keeping it up high during the night, and in the morning the bright, fresh look of vegetation had disappeared ; everything was wilted and drooping ; then came a rather cold rain, which was in turn followed by a few days of moderately cool weather, when these spots first made their appearance on the leaves and fruit. In addition to this, the hot, dry air, before the rain came, had so exhausted the moisture in the leaves, that they shriveled up, so that the edges and the tops of the tender twigs were turned black or brown. In some instances the effect was so great that they were wholly dried up and dead, and when favorable weather returned, growth was checked until new buds and leaves were developed. As the principles and manner of vegetable growth are similar in the different forms of plant life, the result was about the same in trees, grains and grasses. The way in which this injury was done will be more clearly seen, if we briefly consider how plants feei and their growth is made. The sap taken up from the earth by the roots passes up- ward from cell to cell, mainly in the new wood growth, deposit- ing in them in its passage more or less of starch and other earthy elements, until it reaches the cellular structure of the leaf in a diluted and weakened condition. In passing through the cellular structure of the leaf, it gives off the excess of moisture and ab- sorbs oxygen, carbonic acid and ammonia from the atmosphere, through myriads of mouths, situated both on the upper and under sides of the leaf. The sap thus vitalized passes down bstween the sap-wood and bark, perfecting the auxiliary buds and devel- oping a new growth of woody fibre from the leaf to the root. 230 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. Now, what makes the sap rise? Is it heat? We see that heat and moisture are necessary to promote the sprouting of the seed and the early development of the plant, and whether these are the causes of the upward flow of the sap or not, we see that the flow is greater when heat and moisture are in excess. If the flow is too great for proper circulation in the leaf, whether it comes from injury to the leaf, as stated before, or from a natural insufficiency of foliage to meet extra circulation, the sap stagnates in the leaf cells, and decay or loss of vitality sets in, which in turn induces rust, mildew, fungoid growth or blight. Here is the starting point of the trouble; a diseased or insufficient foliage impairs the vitality of fruit, leaf, stalk or tree, and favors parasitic growth. Some claim that blight is contagious. Eust, mildew and fun- goid growth may be, where they have once gained a foothold, but blight cannot be. It is generated in every pore, cell or globule of the single leaf, or of all the leaves on the twig, or part affected, at the same time, and thus gives the conditions necessary to the development of fungoid growth or rust. '" But why are not all varieties of vegetation attacked with rust alike? Why are not all the leaves and parts of the plant at- tacked affected alike ? It must be evident to all who have ob- served carefully, that this trouble begins with the tenderest parts, with the leaves just starting out and yet 'undeveloped, and that after they get to be mature, and the buds are perfected, the dan- ger is over. It is only while the plants are growing and tender, when they are developing rapidly and the flow of sap is greatest and the heat up to and over ninety degrees, that they seem to be seriously affected. This is the tender period, the crisis in their development, and once past it, they are safe. Slow growing vari- eties and varieties with thick leaves, also those trees and plants that reach maturity early, are less affected than the others. This would suggest as a preventive remedy the cultivation of these varieties, and such culture as would tend to produce a steady, slow growth and early maturity, and the checking of excessive and rank growth. The necessity of the last point is proved by the results often seen to follow the stimulation to rapid growth of slow growing trees that have been healthy and fruitful for years, Bust or Mildew. 231 where early development was slow and moderate. Change these conditions, and the first hot, muggy day that comes usually pro- duces mildew or blight. When trees or plants are struck with rust or mildew, if left un- checked, all growth is stopped for the season. Should a favor- able change of weather occur, and this fungoid growth be checked by natural causes, or if it is destroyed by the application of sulphur, charcoal and salt, a new and healthy growth will start out. The articles mentioned are all good, but I think the benefit comes mainly from the sulphur. The past season, one of my apple trees, the Fall Cranberry, was badly affected ; the whole top was affected, fruit, twigs and leaves; growth was entirely checked on the 20th of July ; the 1st of August this mildew dis- appeared, new buds started out, and from the 1