94 Wisconsin State Horticultueal Society. 



far from correct or complete. To cite a few of the most prominent 

 statements there found: The report of the number of acres in vine- 

 yards gives 925, with a reported yield in 1877 of 455,210 pounds. 

 The number of acres in orchards in 1878 is reported as 01,819, and 

 the number of apple trees of bearing age is placed at 1,840,572. 

 The yield of apples in 1877 is given as 264,238 bushels. The heav- 

 iest yield is reported from Waukesha county, 3?, 505 bushels; next, 

 Milwaukee, with 26,456 bushels; Racine, 23,994 bushels; Wal- 

 worth, 22,923 bushels; Washington, 18,015 bushels; Dodge, 17,- 

 980; Sheboygan, 10,811; Jefferson, 15,256; and Kenosha, Fond du 

 Lac, Dane, Columbia, Rock, Grant and Winnebago, in the order 

 named, from 9,000 to 6,000 each. Rock, Walworth, Grant and 

 Waukesha counties are each reported as having over 100,000 trees 

 of a bearing age. The number of acres devoted tothe cultivation, 

 of the cranberry is given as 25,041, with a yield of 72,123 bushels 

 in 1877. The number of acres in growing timber is returned as 

 11,229,194. 



The statistics contained in the assessors' returns are doubtless 

 far from correct, but they are the best we have, and we trust that 

 they will, from year to year, become more accurate and satisfac- 

 tory. 



There is another important work in the interest of horticulture 

 where great good could be done, if circumstances would permit us 

 to enter the field; that is, to aid and encourage our local horticul- 

 tural organizations, by making it the duty of our executive officers 

 or of a committee appointed for that purpose, to attend and take 

 part in their meetings, and also to contribute to the local press 

 information on such subjects as may be timely and important. Great 

 loss might be prevented at times, and much benefit conferred in 

 this way. For example, a few simple directions at the right time 

 would lgad to the destruction of many of our insect enemies. The 

 " cheap evergreen, right from the woods," and the new straw- 

 berry fever and many other similar epidemics would lose there viru- 

 lence, if a few words of caution were given ac the right time. 

 The pursuasive eloquence of the tree peddler, who comes among 

 us year after year, hunting gulls, each season taking a new portion 

 of the field, selling "extra hardy pear trees, grafted on French stock, " 

 and a very promising "new variety of hardy winter apples, just 

 brought over from Russia, the Alexander," at remarkable low prices, 



