88 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



out the greater portion of the state, but a strip from twelve to fif- 

 teen miles in -width along the lake shore, the natural fruit belt of 

 the state, was an exception to this there during these months an ex- 

 cessive drought prevailed. 



The injury resulting from these extremes was far greater in the 

 southern than in the central and northern portions of the state, 

 but there were localities in all parts of the state where local influ- 

 ences intensified or modified the effects of these extremes, so that 

 the same diversity as usual was seen in the quantity and quality of 

 fruit, and sometimes in very narrow limits. As a rule, in the south- 

 ern counties, on low, flat ground, and warm locations with heavy 

 soil, there was little or no fruit; on high ground and cool locations, 

 with well drained soil, there was a moderate crop of fruit of medium 

 quality. In the central and some of the northern counties, with a 

 few exceptions, the small fruit crop was very large, and the apple 

 crop much better than the average. Reports from the extreme 

 north give yields as better than ever known before. In a report 

 of a local fair in Minnesota, notice was made of apples on exhibi- 

 tion, raised three hundred miles north of St. Paul. As we are lim- 

 ited for time, and these points will be fully brought out in the 

 reports of our committee of observation, and in the personal ex- 

 perience of members, we will proceed to the subjects more partic- 

 ularly relating to the society's work. 



State Fair. — The exhibition of fruit and flowers in the horti- 

 cultural department at the State Fair was very good. The building 

 assigned us was well filled; we think it no exaggeration to say that 

 it was better filled than any other building on the ground. Instead 

 of needing the aid of other departments to make use of our space, 

 as the officers suggested, we could have aided them materially 

 without any detriment to ourselves. This was mainly owing to the 

 hearty response of exhibitors to the appeals for special efforts to 

 make the show creditable, in view of the unfavorable prospects for 

 fruit. 



Summer Meeting. — In the number of persons present, and in 

 the interest taken by those attending, our June meeting was a de- 

 cided success. This was largely due to the great efforts on the 

 part of the local society and the citizens of Baraboo to contribute 

 to the interest of the meeting, and to promote the comfort and 



