STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 427 



TJie program for the occasion was very complete, and the sub- 

 jects presented were such as would tend to instruct and enthuse 

 the members present. The attendance of Wisconsin horticul- 

 turists was very good, and included most of those who had been 

 prominent workers in the cause for many years. There were 

 present as delegates from other states, Messrs. J. V. Cotta, of 

 Illinois; C. G. Patten and J. Wragg, of Iowa; Chas. W. Garfield 

 and Prof. A. J. Cook, of Michigan; D. E. Maginnis and J. S. 

 Harris, of Minnesota. 



The meeting was opened at 2 p. m., on the sixteenth, with an 

 address of welcome by Hon. Alexander Cook, of Waukesha, in 

 which he complimented the society upon its high and ennobling 

 aims, and the zeal with which it had fostered the highest and 

 most ennobling sentiments and inculcated them among the peo- 

 ple of Wisconsin, the love of the useful and beautiful in nature, 

 and especially the love for fruits and flowers. He alluded to the 

 wonderful impetus that had been given to horticultural develop- 

 ment and progress in the Northwest in the last score of years, 

 through the earnest efforts of this society and kindred organiza- 

 tions in other states, and thought that we were now but standing 

 on the threshold of an era of expansion of horticultural knowl- 

 edge such as the world had never before conceived of. 



Mr. B. F. Adams, of Madison, delivered an appropriate re- 

 sponse to the address of welcome, reviewing the work of the 

 society in the past and expressing the opinion that the present 

 outlook was very encouraging,, and closed his remarks by saying 

 that the "thoroughbred Wisconsin horticulturist possesses an 

 enthusiasm that the coldest winds of winter or the strongest 

 heats of summer could not overcome." 



The remainder of the afternoon session was taken up with 

 the reports of the secretary and other officers, committees, del- 

 egates to other state meetings and the election of officers. 



The secretary in his report made an urgent plea for an in- 

 creased membership. Thought the free distribution of reports 

 tended to discourage membership and that the summer meetings 

 held at different places in the State had added greatly to the 

 strength and usefulness of the society. He gave irresponsible 

 tree tramps some hard raps, but did not favor legislation on the 

 subject. Thought the education to be gained through more 

 meetings and farmers' institutes was the only available remedy. 

 They would flourish in spite of all laws as long as there was ig- 

 norance of horticulture among the farmers. 



