32 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



There is no good reason for it except the heedlessness and igno- 

 rance of the great majority of our farmers and citizens. We are 

 here to day to do, among other things, what little we may to cor- 

 rect this evil. Let us work faithfully and well. Perhaps in the 

 years to come some beautifully adorned and happy homes may be 

 found, homes where beauty, refinement and happiness may go 

 hand in hand, both within and without their walls, whose inmates 

 shall say, we were led to appreciate and seek after these things by 

 the teachings of your horticultural convention. Should this be the 

 case we will not regret our labors, and this convention will surely 

 not have been held in vain. 



SIXTEEN YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN FRUIT CULTURE 

 IN ST. CROIX COUNTY. 



E. G. Partridge, Warren. 



Although this is the first time I have had the pleasure of attend- 

 ing a meeting of the State Horticultural Society, yet I feel almost as 

 if I were personally acquainted with many of you ; for T have 

 been a careful reader of the reports of your society for many years, 

 and have studied the essiys and discussions contaiued in them 

 until the names and characteristics of the members participating 

 therein have become so familiar as to seem almost like personal 

 acquaintances ; and when two weeks ago I was invited to prepare 

 a paper to ba read before this meeting, summarizing my experi- 

 ence as a fruit grower in St. Croix county, I felt both gratified 

 and honored, and gladly accepted the invitation, hoping that, 

 though not able to instruct others, I might receive instructions 

 through the suggestions of others, which would assist in overcom- 

 ing the difiiculties which have hitherto beset me as an orchardist. 



I have somewhere read that in a work upon the natural history 

 of Ireland, the learned author in describing the various animals 

 that inhabit that island, devoted one chapter to snakes and kindred 

 reptiles, and commenced with the remark, " There are no snakes 

 in Iceland;" and it has occurred to me that I might appropri- 

 ately preface a paper upon apple culture in St. Croix county with 



