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. 



