ANNUAL MEETING. 
State Agricultural Booms, 
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1869. 
The Wisconsin State Horticultural Society convened for its 
annual session in the agricultural rooms, in the capitol at Madi¬ 
son, at 7 1-2 o’clock P. M.,^ and was called to order by the 
president. Dr. Joseph Hobbins, pursuant to the call thereof, 
published for that purpose ; when Wm. T. Leitch, the presi¬ 
dent of the Madison Horticultural Society, delivered a brief 
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address of welcome. 
ANNUAL ADDRESS. 
President Hobbins followed with his,annual address, which 
was listened to with intense interest by those present: 
Gentlemen and Members of the State Horticultural Society: 
The address I am about to make to you consists of such hor¬ 
ticultural reflections and suggestions as have occurred to me 
from time to time during the past year, run together without 
any particular order or method. Nor, indeed, as you will dis¬ 
cover, have I made any sj^ecial effort to elaborate the thoughts 
I shall utter, since I would rather that they should be regarded 
as of a purely suggestive character, leaving the elaborating 
and perfecting process to you, should you deem them of 
sufficient importance. 
As I move through society I have been struck by the ffilse 
and by no means flattering idea which many people seem to 
entertain of the character of a horticulturist, and more 
especially of the amateur horticulturist. Therefore. I shall 
take this opportunity, knowing that what I have to say will 
