372 ANNUAL REPORT. 



The title of the paper was, ''What I Know About Orchards," 

 in which he went back to the early times in Wisconsin, and 

 graphically described his experience as one mixed with "joy 

 and sorrow" — sorrow generally predominating. In his last or- 

 chard fifty to seventy-five per cent of his fruit had been des- 

 troyed by the "apple gouger." He recommends grubbing out 

 all worthless varieties, that only serve to harbor and rear in- 

 sects, and concludes with the remark that he is "uncertain 

 about knowing anything about orchards." The discussion fol- 

 lowing the reading of the paper revealed that the troubles of the 

 fruit growers in Wisconsin are little if any less than in Minne- 

 sota. 



The remainder of the session was taken nj) in tributes to the 

 memory of the late secretary of the society, Mrs. H. M. Lewis, 

 deceased; and it was ordered that volumes containing a suitable 

 memorial page be bound in gilt and presented to the surviving 

 members of her family. 



Another session of the society was held in the forenoon of 

 Friday. The remainder of the time was spent in joint conven- 

 tion with the State Agricultural Society and the Dairymen's 

 Association. This joint convention of the farmers, from the be- 

 ginning to the end, was a grand success. The ablest men of the 

 State were there to read papers, make addres«es, and discuss the 

 most vital questions of the hour. Thursday afternoon was 

 mostly devoted to the reading of papers by ladies, and the coun- 

 tenance which the ladies give these annual conventions is very 

 encouraging. When printed the report of this convention will 

 be a valuable addition to farm literature, and fortunate will be 

 those who receive a copy of it. 



I have omitted to mention that Mr. Tuttle showed before the 

 meeting freshly cut cions from a number of his Eussian variety 

 of apples, and from the leading variety in general cultivation. 

 In none of the Russians or the Wealthy was shown marks of in- 

 jury from the unijrecedented cold of the present winter. All 

 other varieties were more or less discolored. 



The secretary's report was an interesting document, in which 

 he spoke of jilans for enlarging the influence of the society by 

 laboring for the establishment of numerous local societies 

 throughout the State. The treasurer's report showed that the 

 entire expenditures of the year, including secretary's salary and 

 premiums at the summer meeting, were only four hundred and 

 thirty-one dollars. Our overtures for exchange of transactions 



