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 



