154 Wisconsin State Hoeticultukal Society. 



of every day life, is of real importance and often of great value, 

 and it is in this that the real mission of our, and of all kindred 

 societies is to be found, and here is the test by which their use- 

 fulness and efficiency are to be judged. Are the public interested 

 in and benefited by their work. 



For the encouragement of our members and to give a better 

 idea of the condition of our society, I would state that for some 

 time past I have enjoyed special advantages for getting acquainted 

 with the inside working of horticultural and other societies, and 

 observing the results obtained, the agencies and means used, and 

 can safely say, that in earnest, thorough work, in the interest 

 and practical character of its meetings, in the harmony of its 

 members and their devotion to their work, and in the beneficial 

 influence exerted, this society will compare favorably with any. 



Summer Meetings. — Two summer meetings were held the 

 past season, one at La Crosse, the other at Appleton. Both of 

 these meetings were as well attended by the members of the State 

 Society as could be expected in the busiest part of the year, but 

 there was evidently a lack of special preparation for the literary 

 part of the occasion, and also a lack of local interest in the meet- 

 ings. Many things doubtless helped to produce this, but the 

 main cause was to be found in pressure of work. Cannot this be 

 overcome in a measure by a greater local effort to create an inter- 

 est, and by a more thorough preparation on the part of members 

 to get up a more attractive programme? Practical discussions 

 are very interesting and useful at our annual meetings, and in 

 farmers' conventions, where the greater portion of the audience 

 are specially interested in the subjects discussed, but at meetings 

 like those held the past season, there is a large class who come to 

 be entertained, and to whom a well written paper, even on a dry 

 subject, and a more varied programme, would give greater pleas- 

 ure and be more benefit, perhaps, than the most practical discus- 

 sion. I would here repeat the suggestion of last year, that 

 perhaps we might accomplish more by trying to do less, by hold- 

 ing but one meeting, making that the best possible. 



In accordance with the resolution passed at our last annual 



