452 ANNUAL REPORT 



THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The day sessions of the agricultural society were taken up 

 with the revision of the premium list for the next state fair, and 

 the reception of reports of department superintendents of the last 

 fair. The joint convention was formally opened in the assembly 

 chamber by the president of the agricultural society, John L. 

 Mitchell, in an opening address in behalf of the society, welcom- 

 ing the farmers of the state to the convention. He tersely 

 enumerated the interests represented in the various departments 

 of the society, complimented the people engaged in the various 

 industries upon the success being achieved, pointed with com- 

 mendable pride to the'high position occupied by "Wisconsin agri- 

 culture and extolled the people for the interest they take, each 

 in his choseoi calling, and closed with picturing the advantages 

 of country over city life. He was followed by J. M. Smith, presi- 

 dent of the State Horticultural Society, with an able paper upon 

 the future of horticulture in Wisconsin. He recommended as a 

 means for its greater and speedy advancement, the establish- 

 ment of a system of experiment stations located in different parts 

 of the state, to be under the direction and supervision of the 

 professor of horticulture, where practical experiments may be 

 conducted for the development of varieties of fruits and vege- 

 tables best adapted to the various localities in the state. Mr. 

 Smith closed with a fitting reference to the progress and success 

 of the society since its organization and complimented the old 

 veteran workers whose efforts had contributed to that success. 

 Mr. Smith was followed by Gov. Hoard with an eloquent address 

 on "Agricultural Education," which was heartily received by 

 the large audience. The evening session was closed at a late 

 hour with an interesting paper on the "Beautiful Side of Life," 

 by Mrs. A. J. Clarke, of Waterloo. 



February 6th the capital building was full to overflowing. 

 The forenoon sessions were held in separate rooms. Before the 

 horticultural society the secretary, B. S. Hoxie, read his annual 

 report. He started out with the assertion that the successes of 

 horticulture are builded largely upon the failures of the past, 

 and that horticulture stands for more than the planting of an 

 apple tree. He gave a general review of the workings of the so- 

 ciety, recommended the organization of local societies, the hold- 

 ing of a circuit of popular meetings where they will accomplish 

 the most good, and the general taking of good papers that con- 

 tain horticultural literature. 



