LETTERS. 
463 
head of the list for hardiness. I cannot see but what it stands the climate as 
well as the crabs, although it does not grow quite so fast. Is looks healthy 
and is beginning to bear. The Astrachan, Fameuse, Perry Russet, Golden 
Russet, Sweet Pear, andTalman Sweet, have stood pretty well. I think these 
are the most reliable. Those that have set the Tetofsky speak well of it. 
The Transcendant and Hislop Crabs do finely and bear abundantly ; the 
Tradscendant bears a little the best, so far as my observation extends. There 
is quite a call for these large crabs. People think they make quite an apple, 
and are anxious to have them, as they make good pies, sauce, and are quite 
good to eat, where they raise no others. ^ 
We have no pears or cherries here ; of plums none but the wild ones, those 
we have in abundance. Our small fruits, such as strawberry, raspberry, 
gooseberry and cui^rant do nicely. The Wilson strawberry and Houghton 
gooseberry take the lead. 
Our climate is different here from what it is in the south or east parts of 
the state. The atmosphel-e is dryer; not near so much rain. Nothing un" 
common to have the thermometer down to 30® below zero in winter, and 
but little snow, ancl in summer as high as 90® to 100® and even more in 
some places. Our soil on the prairies is a loam, varying from a sand to a clay. 
In the timber and on the bluffs more clay. On the prairie, sand and sandstone 
underlie the soil; under this limestone. Our water for wells is found mostly 
in the limestone, from 40 to 100 feet deep. Don’t think trees have any 
trouble with wet feet on the prairie. 
In looking among my trees, I find more trouble from malformed crotches 
than from the climate; at least so it looks to me. Some varieties, for in¬ 
stance the Autumn Strawberry, wants to grow all crotches, while the Duch¬ 
ess has but very fev. I have strong hopes that we shall succeed in raising 
some varieties of apples in this latitude. Nothing like trying and keeping at 
it. I hope you will have a pleasant meeting and be able to give us some good 
advice. I wish I could be present, and should be happy to hear your dis¬ 
cussions. Respectfully yours, 
MATHEW D. PROCTOR. 
Hartford, Green Lake Co., Jan. 31, 1869. 
0. S. Willey, 
Secretary oj the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society : 
Dear Sir —I find I am a little too late in responding to your request to 
report on the condition of fruits and fruit trees in this county. I was think 
ing the meeting occurred a week from now. 
Much might be said on this subject, but I da not think it advisable- to use 
many words at this time. There is a very different state of feeling in regard 
to the whole subject than there was a few years ago. There had been so 
many failures from want of experience and knowledge of what the climate 
and soil of this state required, that failures were inevitable and should have 
been expected and provided for. It is not strange that men that set fruit 
trees as they would set posts and treated them afterwards in the same way, be- 
