238 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



Still another gives his experience in growing a crop of early 

 potatoes. That he has found the Alpha some days earlier than 

 the Early Eose, and of a very fair quality, but so very indifferent 

 in its yield as to make it an undesirable va'iety, even for early 

 potatoes. In this manner the time of the meeting is spent, until 

 the time comes for them to adjourn to meet, on another day, a 

 month hence. At another meeting, the ladies tell of their success 

 in raising flowers. Some may tell of failures, and ask for advice, 

 which is given, and very likely may prove of great benefit. 



At one meeting after another, the different crops of fruit and 

 of vegetables are thus discussed, the best methods of cultivating 

 them, the best methods of preserving them during winter, the 

 varieties best adapted to the different soils and climate, until each 

 active, thinking member of such a society has a better practical 

 knowledge of horticulture as adapted to his own soil, climate and 

 location, than he would have had by reading every volume that 

 has been printed on the subject of horticulture during the nine- 

 teenth century, provided he had depende 1 on them onty. 



But it is by no means necessary that you should confine your- 

 selves strictly to horticulture. If you prefer t'> devote a portion 

 of your time to agricultural subjects, do so. At times, call upon 

 some outside friends to visit and address you. How long think 

 you such a society, consisting of wide awake, active members, 

 could hold together without be.ng of great use, not only to each 

 other, but to those about them? I speak with the more confi- 

 dence in this, from the fact that for years past I have been con- 

 nected with such a society in Brown county. 



Not long since, one of the educated and refined ladies of the 

 city of Green Bay said to me, in speaking of the influence of that 

 society : "1 can see a great difference in the ladies now, as com- 

 pared with the time when they first began to meet together, and 

 it is all in their favor. They prepare their food more nicely; 

 they set and prepare their tables with more taste and care; they 

 treat each other more politely and kindly. In short, 1 have 

 noticed a steady and rapid improvement in all these and other 

 things, ever since I began to attend the meetings." And this was 

 from one of the highly cultivated ladies of our city. 



