Notes and Gleanings. 363 



Apples were in great profusion ; some exhibiters showing nearly a hundred 

 varieties, large, smooth, and fine. 



The floral department was well represented ; the German Horticultural 

 Society of this city taking the lead, showing many choice plants, and taking 

 tlie first premium of fifty dollars for the best show by county or local societies. 



Kenosha County receives the second premium ; their contribution being 

 made up almost entirely of apples. As a whole, the exhibition was a grand suc- 

 cess ; and many a heart rejoiced over the silver fruit-dish, cake-basket, cup, 

 and spoons they have won at this autumn exhibition of the Wisconsin Fruit- 

 growers' Association. O. S. Willey. 



Madison, Wis., Sept. 30, 1867 

 To the Editor of " The Journal of Horticulture." 



Sir, — Circumstances have, until now, prevented an endeavor to comply with 

 3'our request; to which, if my assent were partially given, it was also partially 

 withheld, that I would let ynu hear from me while absent on my present journey. 

 And now, when this attempt at compliance is made, it is done with great misgiv- 

 ings as to my ability to do so to your acceptance or to my own satisfaction. It 

 is not easy to write letters while on a journey. When travelling, there is no 

 time for it ; and, when occasionally stationary, not much more leisure. 



In your case, this difficulty is enhanced by the fact, that a letter, to be of any 

 interest to you, must be upon a special subject, or class of subjects, — must re- 

 late to horticulture or agriculture ; while to make a letter upon such subjects 

 that would be of any value demands more time in making inquiries and exami- 

 nations than I have ability or inclination to bestow. Unless a visit to Europe is 

 made with a fixed purpose or definite object, a stranger cannot give much time 

 to any one subject : the attention necessarily becomes divided among the numer- 

 ous objects of interest that are everywhere and constantly presenting them- 

 selves. Go where he may, there are everywhere museums of art, antiquities, 

 and curiosities ; galleries of paintings and sculpture ; old cities of quaint and 

 curious architecture ; old castles and palaces, memorable as liaving been the 

 abodes of those whose names are as household words in every land, or the 

 scenes of striking and important events ; old battle-fields, where contests have 

 been decided and victories won that have exercised an influence upon the 

 course of the world's history for generations, if not for ages : and, with all these 

 to interest or instruct, he can give but little time to gardens or gardening. You 

 cannot, of course, expect from me any thing very new. IVIy future, as has been 

 my past course, is over an oft-trodden path. The most that I can hope for is, 

 perhaps, to give you an account of some things that acciJent may bring more 

 particularly under my notice ; to present them to you under an aspect somewhat 

 different from that to which you may be accustomed. 



Having arrived in England in the middle of May, and remained there during 

 the residue of that and the whole of the succeeding month of June, I was en- 

 abled to see some portions, at least, of that country under its, perhaps, most 

 favorable aspects. When I reached Liverpool, the season, as indicated by the 

 vegetation, was much in advance of what it was in Massachusetts when I left. 



