OF THE WISCONSIN STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Proceedings, Essays, and Reports AT THE ANNUAL WINTER MEETING, HELD AT MADISON, FEBRUARY 1, 2, AND 3, 1876. COMPILED BY F. W. CASE, SECRETARY. MADISON, WIS.: E. B. BOLENS, STATE PRINTER. 1876. Preface. This, the sixth annual volume of the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, is given to the public with the earnest hope that all who are interested in horticulture, especially in our own State, will find its contents fully as interesting, and as useful to them in their field of labor, as those of former years. There may appear to some to be a lack of variety in the range of subjects presented, and that too much space is devoted to apple-culture; but this seemed to our members to be the "subject of the hour," and to demand special attention. The extreme severity of the winter of 1874-75 had, by the destruction it occasioned in our orchards, unsettled the faith of the public generally, and of some even of our oldest fruit-growers, in the success of fruit-culture in our State, and there was an earnest desire, on the part of those assembled at our annual meeting, to fully discuss the situation, and, if possible, to devise some remedy, some way of escape from the evils that beset us. Interesting articles will also be found on grape-culture, floriculture, cranberries, small-fruits, and ornamental foliage. The reports of the committee of observation, from the different fruit-districts will be found an interesting and instructive feature of the volume. It is much to be regretted that want of space made it necessary to cut down the reports sent in. These reports should form a prominent part of our yearly volumes; for in no way can more light and knowledge be gained on horticulture subjects, than by a careful collection and consideration of the experience of others; and of all the facts developed by different conditions and systems of culture. The illustrations in the volume add much to its appearance, and, we trust, to its worth. The importance of a more general knowledge of our insect friends and foes, led our Society to adopt the plan of giving an article on this subject each year, illustrating it with cuts of the insects described so that they may readily be known to all. Thanks are due to Prof. W. W. Daniells, of the State University, who kindly furnished the entomological notes of the present volume. Cuts are given of two valuable varieties of fruit, originating in this State. The frontispiece, a colored illustration of Whitney's Seedling No. 20, is inserted through the kindness of Mr. Whitney himself, at his own expense. As the apple is excellent in quality for cooking and canning, and as the tree has proved sufficiently hardy to endure our most severe winters, having been in bearing for sixteen years, it was deemed worthy of insertion. Obligations are due to the State Printer for printing the Transactions at the earliest moment the other demands of the State on him would permit, and for the neat and attractive manner in which he has done the work. F. W. CASE, MADISON, June, 1876. 166254 Recording Secretary. |