SMITH. Recording Secretary — M. Brandegee. Executive Committee — Jxo. Maxwell, Ira 

 Smith, H. A. Graef. Finance Committee — J. H. Lester, James Park, James Haslehprst. 

 Library Committee — M. L. Schaeffer, J. A. Nexsen, Walter Park. Premium Committee — 

 J. E. Rauch, M. Brandegee, James Weir, George Gamgee, George Hamlyn. Committee on 

 Fruits — James Weir, J. E. Rauch, Wm. Paynter. Committee on Plants and Flowers — George 

 Gamgee, M. Brandegee, F. Lane. Committee on Vegetables — George Hamlyn, George Ingram, 

 Martin Collopy. 



Milwaukee, December 20, 1855. 



Editor Horticulturist. Dear Sir : The Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Fruit Grower'' s 

 Association was held at Wliitewater on the 12th and 13th of December. The attendance 

 was good, and the display of fruits interesting and attractive. The leading object of the 

 Association is to determine, from the experience of its members, the fruits that are best 

 adapted to our climate and soils. In respect to these, our situation is so different from that 

 of horticulturists at the East that, while acknowledging the value of the information de- 

 rived from them, we find that it will not do to be governed by it entirely. The discussions 

 of our Association are conducted upon the plan of the Northwestern Fruit Growers' Conven- 

 tion, aud by these, facts of great importance to the fruit growers of tliis State are elicited. 

 They will be published about the 1st of February next. We shall be greatly obliged if 

 kindred societies will send us their publications as they are issued. We are small yet — 

 but we are growing! The following is the list of officers for 1856. 



Yours, very truly, 



CHARLES GIFFORD, Corresponding Secretary. 



Officers of Wisconsin Fruit Growers' Association for 1856. — President — Charles Gif- 

 FORD, of Milwaukee. Vice-Presidents — Cyrus Hawley, of Milwaukee ; Abel Slocum, of 

 Whitewater ; H. T. Woodward, of Beloit. Recording Secretary — Andrew Child, of Delafield. 

 Corresponding Secretary — Charles Colby, of Janeaville. Treasurer — R. W. Parker, of Mil- 

 waukee. Executive Committee — J. C. Beatton, of Aztalan ; H. J. Starin, of Whitewater; 

 A. J. IIanford, of Waukesha. 



€^aln\^ar 0f Oprations. 



FEBRUARY. 



Vegetable Garden. — Among the essentials necessary to maintain high cultivation, a pro- 

 per system of rotative cropping occupies a prominent place. Physiologists ditfer in opinion 

 with regard to the principles upon which rotation is founded, but they agree in recommend- 

 ing its utility. There are two theories in vogue, which may be termed the excretory and 

 the exhaiisting. The former is based on the supposition that, during growth, plants throw 

 off by their roots certain peculiar substances injurious to themselves, but which promote 

 growth in those of a different species. It is well ascertained that plants possess this power, 

 but it is so limited as not to be considered sufficient evidence to account for the beneficial 

 results of rotation. Those who advocate the exhausting theory prove it by the fact that, 

 although all plants are composed of the same primary elements, yet, diiferent species require 

 different proportions of them, each having its own peculiar characteristic formation ; so that 

 if the soil is deficient in these particular substances reciuired by a plant, it cannot prosper, 

 notwithstanding that a plant of suitable formation may grow luxuriantly upon it. This 

 points to the possibility of successfully cultivating the same crop on the same ground, by 

 constantly supplying the ingredients extracted by the crop, but we have not as yet attained 

 rfect knowledge of the exact specific relations between the soil and the plant: 

 upon it, to enable us to put the system in practice. Passing over, for the present 



