84 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



the reward will come sooner or later. We shall never become 

 Vanderbilts, Astors, or Stewarts; our homes even may be very- 

 modest ones; but as we one by one shall finish our work and drop 

 from the ranks, let it be said of each of us, that the world is a little 

 better because of his having lived in it. 



Mr. Plumb remarked that the conditions of soil were quite differ- 

 ent in the Fox River Valley and the northeastern portion of the 

 state from that in the central and southern part of the state. There 

 were elements in the soil better adapted to fruit and tree growth, 

 or they were there in greater abundance. In some parts, there 

 were local causes which seemed to modify extremes of climate, and 

 made it possible to raise with success kinds of fruit which are too 

 tender for other parts of the state. The proof and the result of 

 this is to be seen in the remarkably fine display of fruit at their 

 fairs. The difference is perhaps more marked the present season 

 than usual, but it is seen more or less every year. There is an inti- 

 mate connection between the elements in the soil, and success in 

 fruit raising; there is an adaptation in certain kinds of soil to the 

 wants of particular varieties of trees, which gives them greater 

 vitality, and consequently greater hardiness and fruitfulness. 



He coincided with the president that something should be done 

 to protect the public from the imposition of the tree peddlers, which 

 had been much worse this year than usual. Large sales had been 

 made in many places of stock that was utterly worthless, and at high 

 prices. In his travels in the northern part of the state, he found 

 that they had made a thorough canvass there, and had succeeded 

 in selling large bills of trees, in many cases to parties who ought 

 not to have been taken in by their plausible stories and " wonderful 

 bargains." Many persons invested in varieties too tender to suc- 

 ceed in the most favorable localities we have, and that too, to set 

 where there is no hope of success with anything less hardy than 

 crabs. The most unheard of monstrosities are palmed off on the 

 people in this way: " hybrid cherries, brought from the top of the 

 Rocky Mountains, so hardy as to stand any climate;" "pie-plant 

 crossed with the peach, with the form of growth of the pie-plant and 

 the flavor of the peach; a valuable acquisition." Many of them 

 were sold at $1.50 each, warranted to live or they were to be re- 

 placed at half price. He thought the society ought to take some 



