COUNTY EEPORTS. 469 



It was truly fine. Whatever of fine pictures and fancy articles 

 Madison and the county could boast had evidently been clustered 

 here, and grouped and arranged to produce the most pleasing 

 effect. Upon one side the fine fancy show was bordered 

 by a choice and ample display of fruit, from the orchard and 

 nursery of J. C. Plumb & Co., of Lake Mills, a fine display of 

 over eighty varieties of good apples, together with Pears, Grapes 

 &c. J. Fkench of Madison, exhibited above seventy varieties, 

 mostly very choice. In addition to which were numbers of fine 

 but smaller displays from other exhibitors ; all proving con- 

 clusively that apples at least, can be raised in abundance in Dane 

 County, and of unexceptionable quality, if people will only per- 

 severe in their efforts. 



Mr. Plumb informed us that all of his large collection of fruit 

 was grown on trees of his own raising from the seed, and subse- 

 quent grafting ; and upon trees that are perfectly hardy in our 

 climate. He insists that there is no dif&culty in making such 

 selections as are both hardy and productive. And it would seem 

 as if he ought to know, after an almost twenty years residence 

 and practical experience as a nurseryman in Wisconsin. 



The out side show of animals was on the whole decidedly 

 small for a county of the size and natural importance of Dane. 

 With nearly twice the area of Rock Co., and with a much greater 

 proportion of meadow land, thus fitting it eminently for a stock 

 growing county, yet its show, in this department, notwithstand- 

 ing all of the aforesaid natural advantages, was not near one 

 half as good as Rock county ordinarily makes. What reason 

 should, or can be assigned for this discreditable difference against 

 Dane county, we are not able to say, but if allowed the privi- 

 ledge generally accorded to Yankees, of guessing, we should be 

 largely inclined to conclude that it is wholly owing to a want of 

 enterprise among the people. This is an unflattering conclusion 

 we know, but still we see no help for it, or escape from it. We 

 are forced to this conclusion not more by the small number of 

 stock entries at the fair, than by the meagre attendance of the 

 farmers themselves, Fcr incredible as it may seem, we believe 

 that it is nevertheless true, that there were not five hundred 



