354 ANNUAL REPORT. 



FROM WISCONSIN. 



Fort Atkinson, Wis., January 20, 18S6. 

 The program of the meeting of )'our State Society at hand and examined. It is 

 a splendid one, and judging by your last year's report will be splendidly carried 

 out. We have the reports of most of the states and find none better, and but one 

 or two anything near as good. We hoped to have the pleasure of meeting with 

 you this year, but find it impossible to do so. 



We enclose two dollars lor which please add our names to the list of membersi 

 and if we are entitled to two reports we would be glad to get two. 



Wishing each and every member of the Society a happy and prosperous year we 

 are, 



Very truly yours, 



CoE & Converse. 



' FROM WABASHA. COUNTY. 



Pi.AiNviEW, Minn., Jan. 4, 1886. 



Yours of December 31st came duly to hand. Would say that we had the hardes t 

 winter for fruit last year that we ever had here. The Duchess went through all 

 right ; the Tetofsky all killed ; Ben Davis, Wealthy and Bethel were all killed. 

 The Bethel has stood the winters for twenty-six years. Some seedlings that stood 

 for twenty-six years went down last winter. On the Whitewater river on low 

 ground the Duchess are all killed. If we keep planting we shall find some varie- 

 ties that will stand the winters. I have a seedling that is hardy as an oak ; this is 

 the second year of bearing. The apples are about the size of the Hyslop, are of 

 fine flavor and show no signs of decay as yet. 



Yours truly, 



Geo. W. Harrington. 



PROM MURRAY COUNTY. 



Balaton, Minn., January 5, 1886. 

 Dear Sir : 



Your favor of December 1, last, and also program of winter meeting came to hand, 

 and I am sorry I cannot this year attend the meeting, but hope to do so next winter. 



I send you herewith a sort of report of condition of fruit and fruit trees, etc- 

 There is little to report upon from this county yet, as a very small proportion of 

 the apple trees planted are old enough to be fruiting, yet I think the majority of 

 those who have settled this county have some interest in fruit culture and with some 

 direction and encouragement in the way of information of how to do it, they would 

 do more than they have done. The way our farmers buy of the tree-peddler I should 

 say they have a desire to raise their own fruit as well as improve their homes. 



It is to be regretted that those peddlers are mostly representing Ohio and Illinois 

 nurseries and sell mostly varieties not suitable to this country. Nevertheless some 

 of our State nurseries have become known, and better results will hereafter follow 

 as these have, and I believe try to sell mostly such varieties as will do the best here. 



