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 



