520 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ANNUAL MEETING OF WISCONSIN STATE HORTICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY, FEBRUARY, 7-9, 1893. 



REPORT OF DELEGATE, J. S. HARRIS. 



Mr. President and Horticultural friends: — I have been 3^our dele- 

 gate to the meetings of the Wisconsin society so manj^ times that I 

 feel a great deal more like one of their old members than like a 

 stranger sent down to take notes and pick up and bring back to you 

 things useful or ornamental ; in fact, by a unamimous vote of the 

 society I find my name enrolled in the list of honorary life members, 

 and now when I meet and have a cordial hand shake with those old 

 pioneers and veterans of horticulture. Smith, Bobbins, Stickney» 

 Tuttle, Adams, Phenix, Wilcox, Peffer, Plumb, Springer, Kellogg 

 and others who laid the foundations of pomology in that state, I feel 

 almost that I am one of them, and like using the terms we and us. 

 These men are heroes, whose names will be revered, whose memor- 

 ies will be cherished by future generations. I cannot help but feel 

 that the influence of these men has extended beyond the borders of 

 their own state and across the river that separates us and has made 

 our work lighter and brighter. 



The meeting, as above,was held in the library room of the society, 

 which is one of the pleasantest rooms in the Capitol at Madison, and 

 answers the purpose well as an assembly room; besides affording 

 very good facilities for the usual exhibition of fruits. At times, when 

 the legislature is not in session, the exhibits are generallj' set up in 

 some other room, which is in some respects an advantage, because 

 considerable numbers of people are coming in to see the ffuit who 

 take no particular intarest in the meeting, making some confvision. 

 The meeting opened Monday morning with President M.A.Thayer 

 in the chair, and continued three days, with three long and interest- 

 ing sessions each day. Several of the best papers read were bj' the 

 younger members, showing very plainly that the society will still 

 live and may have standard bearers even after the last old veteran 

 has pass over to the other side of the river to enjoy his rewards. 

 Among the best of the papers was a "Start in Horticulture," by C. E. 

 Tobey, of Sparta. He started out by saj^ing: "One of the many regu- 

 lar cries that comes from those who are not familiar with the bright 

 and winning side of any undertaking is, 'If I had known the possi- 

 bility of success there is in the berry business five years ago, I 

 would have had four or five acres in full bearing before this, but it 

 is too late now.'" The writer maintained that it was never too late 

 for the intelligent worker to procure his share of good things of this 

 earth, which the study and practice of horticulture offers to one and 

 all. He told the audience very lucidly how to make a start in horti- 

 culture, and gave good advice to the beginner. 



Another sterling paper, "The Strawberry from the time of Setting 

 Plants to Harvesting," was read by E. J. Scofield, of Hanover, telling 

 what kind of plants to plant, how to prepare the plants for setting, 

 and how to set them; about cultivating, when to cut runners, winter 

 covering, mulching, picking, marketing, etc. 



Another good paper, by a young member, that would apply 

 equall}^ well to our state was. " How to Grow Apples," by J. J. Mann, 

 of Norwalk. He attributed the failures to be caused, to a consider- 



