120 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



oldest and best fruit growers were not represented in their usual 

 places, as the accidents peculiar to the season had borne heavily 

 upon them, but the extra efforts of others more than made up the 

 deficiency. Two thousand plates were provided for the occasion, 

 but this was not sufficient, and many collections were grouped on 

 the tables alone. 



It is perhaps invidious to speak of individuals where all did so 

 well, and should receive credit for their efforts; yet it is but just 

 to speak of the fine display of apples shown by friends Peffer, 

 Plumb, Kellogg and Palmer, among the professional cultivators, 

 most of whom had on exhibition many varieties not entered for 

 competition; also of Messrs, Phillips, Jeffreys, Lewis, Taylor, 

 Willson, Martin, Sherman and Boyce, among the non-profes- 

 sionals. 



The early date at which the fair was held, sadly affected the 

 show of grapes, but most of the leading grape growers were pres- 

 ent, and in their exhibits, well represented the capabilities of this 

 state to produce this luscious fruit in abundance and of extra 

 quality. 



Another remarkable feature of the exhibition was the unusual 

 display of pears, both in numbers, variety and quality. Many of 

 these exhibits were from what is termed the lake shore belt, but 

 there were quite a number of fine collections from the interior and 

 even the western borders of the state. One of the finest collec- 

 tions of pears ever exhibited at our fairs, was that brought from 

 the well known pear orchard near Green Bay. While this does 

 not make it advisable to recommend the extensive cultivation of 

 the pear, it shows us that there is good reason to hope for success 

 in this direction. 



The remarkably fine exhibition of fruit from the northern part 

 of the state should be mentioned in this connection. Some of the 

 finest fruit, and that too of varieties regarded as not sufficiently 

 hardy to be cultivated in the southern part of the state, even in 

 the most favorable locations, were here to be seen, mature in size 

 and of a superior quality, grown to very near, if not beyond, the 

 limits where successful fruit culture is generally regarded as prac- 

 ticable. The exhibitions of friends Phillips from La Crosse county, 

 and Reynolds from Brown county, demonstrate the capabilities of 

 the northern portion of the state for raising fruit, and give encour- 



