38 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



one of more than ordinary interest and pleasure. The parlors 

 were beautifully adorned with evergreens, flowers, house plants, 

 and the smiling faces of the ladies of Baraboo. The refreshment 

 tables bore witness to the generous hearts and skilled hands of 

 those who had prepared the feast, and the liberality with which 

 the luxuries were dispensed bore with them satisfaction and good 

 cheer. 



June V6th. The day opened with the brightest of suns, and with 

 the pure mountain air of those bluffs was most auspicious for the 

 excursion to Devil's lake, which had been arranged by the local 

 society, and at eight o'clock two carriages steamed up the moun- 

 tain valley to Kirkland, where, by the courtesy of the proprietor, 

 N. C. Kirk, the morning session was held in the spacious pavilion 

 at that famous summer resort. J. S. Stickney read a paper on " The 

 Production of New Varieties." 



PRODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES OF FRUIT. 

 By J. S. STICKNEY, Watjwatosa. 



You will not expect from me an elaborate and exhaustive treat- 

 ment of the subject of new varieties; first, because time would not 

 permit; second, because it would be neither entertaining or profit- 

 able; and third, because I could not possibly do it. If I can pre- 

 sent a few thoughts that will interest you, and lead here and there 

 an individual to investigate and experiment, it will, perhaps, be 

 placed to our credit as time well spent. 



President Smith, in calling for this paper, inquired earnestly for 

 the " coming strawberry." Well, in a general way to fully satisfy 

 the public expectation, it must be immensely large, say about the 

 size of an average pineapple; its flavor must be a high concentra- 

 tion of sugar, sweet cream and strawberry aroma; color, bright and 

 attractive; texture firm — perfection in this last point would enable 

 the producer to market it in bags, something like the present style 

 of apple marketing. Its habit of growth must be luxuriant, 

 enabling it to suppress grass and weeds without the aid of hoe or 

 cultivator. Perhaps this standard is a little high, but'we read in 

 the special circulars, introducing new varieties, near approaches 

 thereto, and these statements are substantiated by many strong 



