2(5 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLLINOIS 



From Baraboo our trip took us westward across the state to La- 

 Crosse, on the Mississippi river. Mr. Harris, of LaCrescent, 

 Minn., came over the river in the morning and escorted us to the 

 fruit farm of Mr. Wilcox, just outside the city. Mr. Wilcox's 

 fruit farm is situated in between two hills and extends up the sides 

 of same with opening to the westward. He has used the crab 

 stock largely for top working purposes, but has abandoned them 

 owing to poor success. Here we saw McMahon's White again in 

 excellent condition and of good size. He thinks very highly of it. 

 The orchard is on a side hill. The Duchess here were very fine. 

 Whitney No. 20 in fine condition. Early Champagne he regards 

 with much favor. Here we saw a new seedling apple which in 

 fruit and tree seems to promise something more than usual for the 

 fruit growers of the north, and possibly for Illinois. The tree 

 bears well and the fruit keeps well through the winter. It is 

 called Wilcox's Seedling and as yet is not on the market. The 

 Pride of Minneapolis crab, w 7 ould think desirable as a cider 

 crab. 



Of numerous plums the Cheeny, DeSoto and Polling Stone were 

 laden with fruit, and according to Mr. Harris are the three best 

 varieties grown, the Miner being far behind these in bearing qual- 

 ities. From here we went across the river to LaCrescent and 

 visited the fruit farm of Mr. Harris, for many years past identified 

 with the Minnesota State Society of which he has been President. 

 Here we saw much to interest us, but as his trees were not in 

 bearing this season the fruit we did not see. He has many new 

 varieties in the nursery and orchard which will be heard from as 

 they come into bearing, through the Horticultural press, to 

 which Mr. Harris is a liberal contributor. 



Leaving here Saturday evening we arrived in Minneapolis Sun- 

 day morning, where we spent the day, being called upon by Mr. 

 Hilliard, Secretary of the Minnesota Society. 



Monday, Mr. Wyman Elliott, President of the State Horti- 

 cultural Society, called with his carriage ana drove out to the 

 State University buildings and experiment grounds. The agri- 

 cultural department of the University is separate from the main 

 University buildings, being about two miles distant, and is run in 

 connection with the experiment station work. There are some 

 forty students taking the Agricultural and Horticultural courses 

 of study, and this idea of carrying forward the work of this depart- 

 ment separate from the University proper, is becoming very popu- 

 lar among the farmers of that state. On the experiment grounds, 

 which are quite extensive compared with those of Wisconsin, we 

 found many new varieties of fruit trees and plants, but none in 

 fruit, most of them being too young to bear. In all probability 

 many new items of interest will come out of the work they are so 

 energetically carrying forward, but no items were found of inter- 



