432 ANNUAL REPORT 



THE EXHIBITS. 



The fruit exhibit was an attractive feature of the meeting. 

 There were nearly five hundred plates heaped with the best 

 specimens of apples grown in the state, also a dozen or so va- 

 rieties of grapes, a few pears and an elegant display of winter- 

 blooming plants. Our old friend Peffer, of Pewaukee, exhibited 

 102 varieties, 31 of them being some of his newer varieties of 

 seedlings and some others, varieties he has originated within the 

 last 30 years. 



Mr. Jeffrey showed 67 varieties, Mr. Hirschinger, of Baraboo, 

 60 and Kellogg, Pilgrim and others made fine exhibits, while Mr. 

 Springer was on hand with 35 varieties of the Waupaca County 

 seedlings. Some of the collections must have been kept in cold 

 storage as we saw Duchess, St. Lawrence and other autumn va- 

 rieties as fair and fresh as if they were picked from the trees but 

 yesterday. 



The bulk of the fruit on exhibition was grown in what is 

 known as the Lake Belt, and in Central Wisconsin. The seed- 

 lings exhibited were remarkable for beauty of appearance and 

 in quality would compare favorably with an equal number of 

 the older varieties in cultivation; most of them are proving 

 hardier where they originated than most of the old varieties. 

 Some of them are long keepers. Perhaps few-, if any, of them 

 will prove adapted to the more unfavored parts of Minnesota 

 and Dakota, but they afford us a valuable lesson and encourage 

 us to work on in the production of seedlings. 



A few varieties of Russians were on exhibition. I must con- 

 fess that I am disappointed in not seeing more of them. There 

 were but four varieties that I should judge to be good keepers. 

 The Repka Malenka is of fair size, of very good quality and may 

 keep until April. Samples of the wood indicate extreme hardi- 

 ness of tree. Red Queen is a good keeper but not as hardy. 

 Longfield is in season now, quality good, fruit hardly large 

 enough for market. One other (name lost) has indications of 

 being a good keeper and will be valuable for cooking. Other 

 varieties were not in condition to judge of their merits, they 

 having been kept over from exhibition at the fall fairs. 



JESSIE STRAWBERRY. 



This is a variety of Wisconsin origin and is just now enjoying 

 a "boom." The originator, F. W. Louden, of Janesville, is a 



