partment, at the head of the list, and to extend the time for the final arrangement of cut flowers till Wednesday morning, 9 A. M. It was also decided to give the superintendent instructions to secure full control of the hall and its entrances for the horticultural department at the fair, to be used so as best to promote the purposes of the exhibition. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS AMENDED. -The committee to whom was referred the amendment of the constitution and by-laws of the society reported, recommending the adoption of the following: CONSTITUTION. ART. I. This society shall be known as the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. ART. II. Its object shall be the advancement of the science of horticulture. ART. III. Its members shall consist of annual members, paying an annual fee of one dollar; of life members, paying a fee of ten dollars at one time; of honorary life members, who shall be distinguished for merit in horticultural or kindred sciences, or who shall confer any particular benefit upon this society; and honorary annual members, who may, by vote, be invited to participate in the proceedings of the society. ART. IV. Its officers shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Superintendent, and an Executive Board, consisting of the foregoing officers and additional members, one from each congressional district of the state, five of whom shall constitute a quorum at any of its meetings. In addition to the foregoing officers, the presidents of all local horticultural societies reporting to this society, shall be deemed honorary members and ex-officio vice presidents of this society. All officers shall be elected by ballot and shall hold their office for one year thereafter, and until their successors are elected; provided, the additional executive members may be elected by the county or local horticultural societies of their respective districts. ART. V. The society shall hold annual meetings, commencing on the Monday next preceding the first Tuesday in February, for the election of officers, for discussions and for the exhibition of fruit; also one meeting during the fall, for the exhibition of fruits and for discussions, and such other meetings for discussion and exhibition as the executive committee may direct, at such time and place as the executive board shall designate. ART. VI. This constitution, with the accompanying by-laws, may be amended at any regular meeting, by a two-thirds vote of the members present. BY-LAWS. I. The president shall preside at meetings, and with the advice of the recording secretary, call all meetings of the society, and have a general supervision of the affairs of the society; and shall deliver an annual address upon some subject connected with horticulture. II. The vice-president shall act in the absence or disability of the president, and perform the duties of the chief officer. III. The secretary shall attend to all the correspondence, shall record the proceedings of the society, preserve all papers belonging to the same, and superintend the publication of its reports. He shall also present a detailed report of the affairs of the society at its annual meeting. He shall also endeavor to secure reports from the various committees, and from local societies, of the condition and progress of horticulture of the various districts of the state, and report the same to this society. It shall be the duty of the secretary to make an annual report to the governor of the state, of the transactions of the society, according to the provisions of the statutes for state reports. IV. The treasurer shall keep an account of all moneys belonging to the society, and disburse the same on the written order of the president, countersigned by the secretary, and shall make an annual report of receipts and disbursements, and furnish the secretary with a copy of the same, on or before the first day of the annual meeting. The treasurer elect shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, give good and sufficient bonds for the faithful performance of his duties, subject to the approval of the executive committee. V. The executive board may, subject to the approval of the society, manage all its affairs, and fill vacancies in the board of officers; three of their number, as designated by the president, shall constitute a finance committee. VI. It shall be the duty of the finance committee to settle with the treasurer, and to examine and report upon all bills or claims against the society, which may have been presented and referred to them. VII. The standing committees of this society shall be as follows: 1st, Committee on Finance, consisting of three members; 2d, Committee on Nomenclature, consisting of three members; 3d, Committee of Observation, as now provided. Said committees to be appointed annually by the executive committee of the society. J. C. PLUMB, Chairman. Which report was accepted, and the constitution and by-laws were adopted. The president announced that the time for election of officers having arrived, the society would now proceed to the election of the officers for the ensuing year. The election was made in the usual form, by ballot, and the following persons were chosen: President.-J. M. Smith, of Green Bay. Vice President.-C. H. Greenman, of Wauwatosa. Additional members of Executive Committee.-J. S. Stickney, Wauwatosa; A. J. Phillips, West Salem; A. G. Tuttle, Baraboo. The following persons were elected as Committee of Observation for the respective fruit districts: 1st District, D. T. Pilgrim, of West Granville. The president appointed as Committee on Nomenclature, J. C. Plumb, B. B. Olds, George P. Peffer. On motion, the usual appropriation was voted to the secretary. Mr. Stickney stated that the premium offered by the society for a number of years for the best seedlings had not been productive of very satisfactory results, in part on account of the conditions imposed, being next to impossible to bring samples of fruit for five successive years; in part, on account of inadequate compensation for the labor required, and because the desired qualities were not definitely stated, and he moved that the same premium should be offered for the best seedling apple, said apple to be exhibited for three years; entries to be made annually, and premiums to be paid at the third exhibition; said apple to have better qualities as a winter apple than any variety now on the recommended list; which motion prevailed. Reports were read from the Brown county, Sauk county, Grand Chute, Lemonweir Valley and Janesville Horticultural societies. (Reports given with "proceedings of local societies" in present volume.) The following resolution was introduced by Mr. Stickney: Resolved, That in case we receive the appropriation asked for, our executive committee be authorized to appropriate from the same, such sum as they think best, not to exceed one hundred dollars, to promote the interest and usefulness of the summer meeting. Which resolution was adopted, and the society adjourned to meet in joint convention in the Assembly Chamber at 7:30 P. M.* Feb. 6, 9:30 P. M. The society met in the Agricultural Rooms for the transaction of unfinished business. The committee on revision of the premium list made their report, which was adopted. *The papers read in joint convention on horticultural subjects, and the discussions following, will be given under the head of "Papers read at Annual Meeting." On motion, Dr. P. H. Hoy, of Racine; J. Periam, of Chicago, and A. F. Hofer, of McGregor, Iowa, were made annual honorary members of the society. A resolution was passed requesting Dr. Hoy to act as Entomologist for the society. In the absence of the secretary, Mr. Geo. J. Kellogg was elected secretary pro tem. Adjourned. Feb. 7, 5:30 P. M. The society met and the following report was made by the committee on Fruit on Exhibition: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUIT ON EXHIBITION. The committee on fruit find on the tables a fine collection of apples by A. J. Phillips, of West Salem, La Crosse county, that show great care in growing and handling, and also the advantage of high limestone ridges for fruit growing. The varieties are Pewaukee, Ben Davis, Wealthy, Willow Twig, Walbridge, Fameuse, Golden Russet, Alexander, Fall Spitzenberg, Ortley, Rawle's Janet, and Jonathan. The last three are seldom grown in that latitude. Mr. Phillips also showed four seedling apples. J. P. W. Hill, Windsor, Dane county, shows some seedling apples, called Leitch, and Hill's Red Winter, of fine size, excellent quality and very beautiful, which promise well for hardiness. J. C. Plumb shows six varieties of apples and two of winter Siberians, the General Grant and Lake Winter, the latter of excellent quality. E. G. Mygatt, of Richmond, Illinois, shows fine specimens of Baldwins grown on top grafted trees; shown to commend top working the tender varieties upon hardy stocks. M. E. Emerson, Door Creek, shows extra well grown specimens of Ben Davis and Stark. G. P. Peffer shows a new seedling apple, the Oakland, and five varieties Siberian crabs. Freeborn & Hatch, Ithaca, Richland county, show enormous sized Golden Russets, and well preserved specimens of grapes, which are supposed to be Rogers No. 3, and Wilder. |