362 Notes and Gleanings. 



Wisconsin Horticultural Exhibitions. — The Annual Exhibition of 

 Wisconsin Fruit-growers has just passed. It was nobly planned, and success- 

 fully carried out. The premiums oftered were liberal, consisting of silver-ware 

 and books, instead of money, as is customary, — valuable intrinsically, and valu- 

 able to keep as happy reminders to those who have successfully competed for 

 the prizes. 



The Madison American Horticultural Society opened the week by a show of 

 fruit and flowers in the Assembly Chamber on Tuesday evening.* This is 

 a well-established society, with charter, and funds on hand. In fact, it is upon 

 a firm basis, which enables it to offer valuable premiums. And the society's 

 exhibitions are always of an interesting character. Its officers are W. T. Leitch, 

 president ; and Joseph Hobbins, secretary. 



Wednesday morning, every thing was removed to the State Fair Grounds, 

 under the auspices of the State Horticultural Society. Here we found a large 

 tent nearly filled, and Floral Hall (a building thirty-two by a hundred feet) full 

 of fruits and flowers. The collections of grapes were conspicuous. S. Marshall 

 showed twenty sorts ; G. V. Nott eighteen sorts, including the lona and Isra- 

 ella, the first ever exhibited in the West. They promise well, and, thus far, are 

 sustaining the claims set forth in their favor. When first sent out, the vines 

 seemed to kill out badly, but for the two past years have sustained their repu- 

 tation. As yet, however, they are too little known to decide just what their rank 

 will be on the list of grapes we grow. 



At the horticultural meeting on Wednesday evening, a warm discussion was 

 held upon the merits and relative rank of some of the fruits. Wisconsin is a 

 " peculiar " State ; and while we all like the best of fruit, and would prefer to 

 see such at the head of our list for general cultivation, we are obliged to seek, 

 first hardiness and productiveness, then quality. Though the majority were 

 of this opinion, and so voted to continue the Concord Grape as the first on our 

 list of hardy, productive good grapes, others preferred the Delaware, v/hich 

 is far superior in quality, which received only the second place. The last is 

 a valuable grape for this State, — abundant bearer, reasonably hardy, and gain- 

 ing favor as a grower. I predict, that, in less than three years, it will stand at 

 the head of American grapes in Wisconsin. 



Of strawberries, the Wilson was continued as the best for general cultiva- 

 tion. The Agriculturist crowded hard for the honors, but was thought to be 

 "too little known" to be safely placed at the head this year. The growers all 

 reported in its favor; and it was unanimously placed second on the list for 

 general cultivation, as being sweeter, and a better table-fruit, than the Wilson. 



The Doolittle Raspberry was recommended without protection, and Fastolf 

 with. Here, again, quality of fruit has to give way for quality of plant. And so 

 will it continue till public taste is sufficiently educated to desire, yea, demand, 

 first quality ; and then the better fruits will be protected in winter. Till then, 

 nursery-men must bide their time, and oftentimes be content to eat "sour 

 grapes." 



* Tliis society does not compete for the fifty-doliar premium o£fered by the State Society. 



