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WISCONSIN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 381 
WISCONSIN STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY—WIN- 
TER MEETING, 1895. 
M. PEARCE, DELEGATE. 
The horticultural and agricultural societies met at the same time 
in different rooms of the capitol; also the legislature was in session 
and a large gathering of representative men of the state. On the 
whole it wasa grand gathering from all parts of the state; a more 
gentlemanly and intelligent class I never met. Wisconsin was ad- 
mitted into the union in 1848, ten years before Minnesota. The old 
pioneers of Wisconsin are nearly all gone, but not forgotten; their 
sound judgment and good works are manifested by their public 
buildings and far-reaching institutions, which have brought Wis- 
consin to the front. 
Irrigation and spraying were two prominent subjects. It was 
conceded that windmills were failures for large plantations, unless 
reservoirs that would hold large quantities of water as a reserve 
in time of need, could be made on high ground. 
Good success was unanimously reported from the direct flow of 
artesian wells on strawberry and other fruit plantations. Irrigation 
in Wisconsin, like Minnesota, is in its infancy, but will not so re- 
main. The fruit growers of Wisconsin have too much at stake to 
allow their large fruit plantations to be destroyed by drought, and 
great efforts are being put forth to overcome the drought in some 
practical way. 
The spraying of fruit trees and other fruiting plants was ably dis- 
cussed. They were not all of one mind onthe subject. Some got 
good results from spraying, others thought it did no good. It 
was suggested that if spraying could be made universal to destroy 
the codling moth, tent caterpillar and other destructive insects 
much good would be derived from it. A state law on the subject 
was thought to be necessary. 
The strawberry, blackberry and raspberry are extensively grown 
in Wisconsin; twenty, forty, eighty and one hundred acre planta- 
tions of those fruits are not unusual. The growers have organized 
shipping associations and send their fruit in refrigerator cars to all 
parts of the South and North in perfect condition. 
The growing of the apple in Wisconsin does not receive as much 
attention as the small fruit, although they have many fine large 
commercial orchards which yield good crops of fruit. The indica- 
tions are that Wisconsin is going to give more attention to the 
growing of apples than she has of recent years. All new seedling 
apples of value are diligently looked after and being tested at the 
central station. 
Wisconsin has many live local horticultural societies, which are 
doing much good in the state, and send each year one or more dele- 
gates to the state meeting. In this way the most that attend the 
annual meeting are practical horticulturists, which is of great im- 
portance to a state horticultural society and relieves a few members 
from doing all the talking. 
Testing new strawberries and originating others is done very 
extensively by some growers at much labor and expense. Of the 
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