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 



