STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 115 
Summer cultivation and winter protection of orchards. J. T. 
Grimes, Minneapolis. 
REPORT OF J. M. UNDERWOOD, 
DELEGATE TO THE WISCONSIN STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
It was with pleasure that I availed] myself of the opportunity for attending 
‘the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society of last winter. 
When the pressing duties of business have confined a man the rest of the 
year, it is refreshing to drop all, and give one’s time for a few days to recreation 
of this kind to meet with those interested in the same pursuits of life and com- 
pare notes of success and failure. 
The society held its annual meeting at the capitol in a commodious room on 
the first floor, on the door of which is inscribed: ‘‘State Horticultural Society;”’ 
adjacent to and connected by folding doors is a room for the ‘‘State Agricultural 
Society’ which holds its annual meeting at the same time and the two together 
make a very desirable suit of rooms. 
The meeting held during a session of the Legislature gave an opportunity for 
the honorable members to attend and interest themselves in the horticultural 
interests of the State; and it was interesting to note that the Wisconsin Legisla- 
ture recognizes the importance of these interests by furnishing the society this 
room, and by the annual donation of the society's printing and $600 in cash to 
‘be used as thought best in premiums to stimulate the organization and main- 
‘tenance of auxilliary societies in the several congressional districts of the State’ 
One of the most important features of the session was the reports from these 
several societies—giving an account of their meetings during the year and of the 
fairs held during the summer. In what more pleasant or profitable way could 
committees spend the long winter than by holding meetings for the discussion 
of subjects relative to their farms, orchards, and gardens, and planning for a 
general display of their products at some favorable time during the summer or 
fall. 
It is arranged now that an officer or member of the State society shall attend 
these summer fairs and address them on some topic of interest and also superin- 
tend the disbursement of the donation not to exeeed $100 from the State socie- 
ty. This $100 is simply to form a nucleus around which the local societies is to 
gather a liberal amount for premiums which shall secure a large exhibition of 
‘fruits, flowers and vegetables, and a general interest in their improvement and 
cultivation. This, it seems to me,is a very practical way of reaching the desired 
development of horticulture in the different sections of the State. Each district 
can profit by the example of the others and vie with them for the most rapid 
progress, and to those who are most alive to their own interests will be awarded 
the crown of success. 
The exhibition of fruit was very creditable, but it was evident to me that ou, 
protracted hot weather during the fall is a serious obstacle to the preservation 
of fruit late into winter. There were some old varieties that I had never seen 
and new seedlings that it is hoped will prove of value. Their list recommended 
is not very different from ours for southern Minnesota. A satchel of Wealthy 
