104 ANNUAL REPORT. 



ing of the Olmsted County Horticultural Society, in December, 

 1883, and mentioned in my report on seedlings before this society 

 a year ago. Also the Forster seedlings that took the first prize 

 from this society two years ago. And the Waldron seedlings 

 from the Fameuse now on exhibition that I wish to call your 

 attention to at this time. 



Third — Wabash County, the best known of which is the Eol- 

 lins varieties; EoUins Pippin, Elgin Beauty, and many other 

 hardy winter sorts. 



In the hasty comparisons here made between the new fruits of 

 "Wisconsin and Minnesota, we have no desire to even intimate 

 which State has done the most for the Northwest till we know 

 what effect 54° below zero has on them. 



Mr. Harris then read the following report: 



WII^TER MEETIN^G OF THE STATE HOETICULTURAL 

 SOCIETY OF WISCONSIK^. 



BY JOHN S. HARRIS. 



It was my privilege to receive a special invitation to accom- 

 pany our mutual friend Mr. Sias, upon his silver wedding tour 

 the first week in February last, and as the thoroughly alive and 

 immensely popular railroad company, the Northwestern, through 

 their genial superintendent, Mr. S. Sanborn, seconded the invi- 

 tation with free transportation over their road from Winona to 

 Madison and return, and I had learned that Mr. Sias carried let- 

 ters of introduction to some of the notables, I gladly availed 

 myself of the privilege of being bridesmaid for the occasion, 

 and I assure you I shall never regret doing so. As he has fur- 

 nished you with a good report of the tour, I had resolved to 

 remain silent upon the subject, but the resolution has been re- 

 scinded by a unanimous vote, so I have concluded to write you a 

 letter about it which you need not print unless you want to. 



We boarded the east-bound train over the Northwestern at 

 Onolaska, a little burgh about six miles from La Crosse, on the 

 evening of the fourth, and the gentlemanly conductor soon found 

 us and said we were the chaps he was looking for, and he served 

 some very pleasant papers upon us, and offered me the freedom 

 of his castle. Upon looking about we found the coach a very 

 elegant one, and well lighted and warmed, and the road bed 



