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Which report was adopted, and in accordance with their recommendation, the following were appointed as members of the committee:

Chairman, Dr. H. Allen, for Monroe county; Hon. J. T. Kingston, Juneau county; H. Floyd, Green Lake county; O. A. Southmayd, Columbia county; Geo. P. Peffer, Waukesha county; and the committee were authorized to appoint members for the other counties, containing cranberry lands.

CARE OF FRUIT.-Mr. Olds called up the question of the proper method of handling and storing our fruit, said that our apples were in bad repute as to keeping qualities; many would pass by home fruit and pay higher prices for Michigan and Ohio apples, because they thought ours would not keep. This is doubtless, mainly owing to the fact that our apples are roughly handled in picking and conveying to market, and from want of care in storing. Thought it would pay to build houses for the express purpose of storing.

Mr. S. S. Northrop was satisfied that we did not pick our fruit early enough. By picking a few days before it was fully ripe we should add much to the length of time it would keep.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON JOINT CONVENTION.-The chairman of the committee of conference with the State Agricultural Society, reported as follows:

Gentlemen of the State Horticultural Society:

The Executive Board of the Agricultural Society, desire me to inform you that they have amended their by-laws so as to meet on the Monday next preceding the first Tuesday in February, instead of as heretofore, so as to hold a joint convention with our society. That they deem it advisable to leave the details of said joint convention to the secretaries of the two societies.

With reference to the subject of a joint exhibition at the fair next fall, the Agricultural Society were willing to offer the same terms as last year, except that the unclaimed premiums should be retained by their Society. There was a strong feeling against paying them to us, but it was finally agreed that if they succeeded in getting the appropriation of $2,000 from the State, the amount of unclaimed premiums should be paid to our treasurer, but otherwise, were to be retained by them. Your committee were induced to assent to this condition.

J. S. STICKNEY,

Chairman.

Which report was adopted, and, on motion of Mr. Stickney, article five of the constitution was amended so as to read as follows: "The society shall hold annual meetings, commencing on the Mon

day next preceding the first Tuesday in February, for the election of officers," etc.

The following resolution, introduced by Geo. J. Kellogg, was passed without debate:

Whereas, A number of establishments for the sale of beer, cider, and other intoxicating liquors were located upon the fair-grounds during the State Fair held at Milwaukee in the fall of 1875;

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Whereas, We believe it to be detrimental to the great interests of the Agricultural Society of this State, and a reproach to any people" to foster or in any manner encourage or permit the sale of intoxicating liquors, especially so on great State occasions,

Therefore, we, the State Horticultural Society, convened at Madison, do hereby request and urge upon the managers of the State Agricultural Society to prohibit in the future the sale or giving away of any intoxicating liquors or drinks, in or upon any of the society's buildings or grounds during any fair.

Vice-President Smith said that for a number of years they had prohibited the sale of ardent spirits on the grounds of their Northern Fair, and had been much gratified with the result, not having a single case of drunkenness or disturbance of any kind.

On motion, Mr. Smith was instructed to make the wishes of the Society known to the Agricultural Board.

Mr. J. C. Plumb introduced the following resolution, in relation to extending the Signal Service:

Resolved, That this Society memoralize our senators and representatives in Congress, so to extend the scope of the Signal Service as to give the benefits of its observations and deductions to agriculture, by sending warning to every telegraphic station of the approach and probable extent and severity of such storms as may occur between April and November; and also the cold waves, their path and probable severity.

We hope, also, they will make every practicable effort to extend one circuit of observation around one entire great circle of the globe, in our general latitude, without which no philosophic observations of the weather can be considered in any degree complete.

Resolved, That the secretary of this Society be instructed to transmit a copy of the report of this committee to each of our senators and representatives in Congress.

Also, a resolution asking a reduction in postage on third-class mail matter, as follows:

Resolved, That this Society earnestly ask a return by the United States Postal Department, to the rates of postage on all third-class mail matter, which obtained before the amendment passed at the last session of Congress; and that our secretary be instructed to forward a copy of this resolution to each member of Congress from this State.

Which were passed without dissent.

Superintendent Kellogg presented his report on the horticultural exhibition at the State Fair.

On motion of J. M. Smith, the treasurer was instructed to pay the secretary the usual appropriation of one hundred dollars.

FRUIT ON EXHIBITION.-The committee appointed to examine the fruits on exhibition made the following report:

Your Committee on Examination of Fruits have inspected the fruit on exhibition and report as follows:

J. C. Plumb, of Milton, exhibits twenty-one varieties of apples. A Siberian apple (the Lake), a winter variety, good eating, mild, sub-acid. Of standard apples, Pewaukee, Fall Orange, Bethlemite, Walbridge, Lawver, Paradise, Winter-Sweet, Blue-Pearmain, Smokehouse, Ben Davis, Winter Pennock, Smith's Cider, Minkler, Woodworth Seedling, Willow-Twig, Seek-no-further, Rawle's Janet, Hoopes, Campfield, Price's Sweet, Howard Spitzenberg, and Utter's; most of the specimens being in good condition.

Geo. P. Peffer, of Pewaukee, exhibits four varieties of standard apples: Pewaukee, Fall Orange, Jonathan, Paradise, Winter Sweet, and six varieties of seedling apples, Clark's Orange, Felix, Ellen Russet, Nellis White, Porter's Best, and Oakton. He also exhibits a specimen of the Wealthy apple; a specimen from Minnesota, and a collection of hybrid apples of much promise.

Geo. J. Kellogg, of Janesville, has six varieties of apples: Willow-Twig, Ben Davis, Fameuse, Barrett Russet, Pomme Grise, and Perry Russet.

B. B. Olds, of Clinton, exhibits fifteen varieties: Ben Davis, Rawle's Janet, Perry Russet, Victuals-and-Drink, Domine, Jonathan, Fameuse, Golden Russet, Red Sweet Pippin, Hurlburt, Monmouth Pippin, Wagner, Red Romanite, and Red Winter Sweet. He also has a specimen of Willow Twig of the season of 1874, in fair condition.

G. W. Putnam, of Ash Ridge, has two varieties of standard apples, the Utter, and Plumb's Cider; also ten varieties of Siberians, Hyslop, Soulard, Marengo No. 1, and No. 2, Lake Crab; five varieties seedlings, Nos. 1, 5, 9, 12, and 19.

A. G. Tuttle, of Baraboo, exhibits ten varieties: Fameuse, Fall Spitzenburg, Walbridge, Drap de Or, Plumb's Cider, Bailey Sweet, Alexander, Utter, Twenty-Ounce, also a very late winter apple, from Russian stock, Red Rannett.

A. J. Phillips exhibits samples of an apple said to be a seedling, and to keep till April. It is of good size and a fine appearance.

Charles Hirschinger, of Baraboo, has six varieties of apples: Golden Russet, Tolman Sweet, Weaver Sweet, Utter, Seek-no-further, and Northern Spy. Also, he exhibits fine specimens of the Hyslop Crab.

A. N. SEYMOUR,

GEO. V. OTT,

N. F. LUND,

Committee.

The secretary was instructed to ask the return from Mr. George Jeffery of Five-Mile House, of one of the premiums awarded to him on plums, by mistake.

Vice-President Smith and George P. Peffer were appointed delegates to represent the society at the agricultural convention. Society adjourned till 7 oclock p. m.

THURSDAY EVENING, 7 O'CLOCK.

The Vice-President called the society to order, and on motion appointed Messrs. Kellogg and Stickney to draw resolution in relation to decease of D. M. Morrow, a member of the society.

RECOMMENDATION OF FRUIT-LISTS.-The question of recommending lists of fruit for general cultivation, was taken up.

Mr. Lawrence said he had always been opposed to the society recommending any list of varieties; it is impossible to get a list that is adapted to all localities; some kinds will do well on a given kind of soil and exposure, but if these conditions are changed, they are not to be relied upon. To be safe in recommending lists, we should describe the conditions to which they are adapted. It would require at least three different lists for Janesville. The most we can do is to give a list of varieties best adapted, and let the people judge for themselves what is best for their locality.

A motion was made by Mr. Hatch that we do not recommend any list of fruits. Seconded by Mr. Lawrence.

Mr. Kellogg thought we should recommend certain varieties; unless we did, farmers would plant other tenderer varieties and suffer greater loss, but that there should be different lists for the different soils and locations. He did not favor any list for general planting.

Gen. Lund felt that we could not safely recommend a list of apples; thought much injury had been done in doing so. Even our hardiest varieties will not do well in all locations, and unless we can define the conditions of soil, exposure, etc., essential to the success of such varieties, we shall do harm by recommending them. He would not venture to recommend any variety of grapes, unless he knew the conditions under which they were to be set.

President Tuttle thought the society had done much hurt by thus recommending varieties for general cultivation. There are places where it would be useless to try any, even of our hardiest varieties of apples, and there are others, where varieties regarded as tender will do well. In the same neighborhood, and often on the same farm, we find poor and good sites for an orchard. When asked by the purchaser what to plant, he could, after learning the soil, exposure, and other conditions, tell, with tolerable certainty, what would be most likely to succeed; without these are definitely known, it is impossible, safely, to recommend. He thought it would be much better for those who wanted to set out orchards to go by the experience of those near them, who are similarly situated. Mr. Kellogg introduced the following resolution:

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Resolved, That we recommend those varieties of fruits in each locality that are succeeding in such locations.

Mr. Cheek said we cannot recommend varieties safely for general cultivation, for what will do well with one, often fails with others. He could not recommend the cultivation of pears, notwithstanding they succeed with him. He had raised sixteen different kinds of pears for years, and had not lost a crop or suffered from the blight, but this was not proof that others would succeed.

The above resolution was adopted.

Mr. Whittier moved that the secretary be instructed to confer with the committee on cranberries in regard to getting up a circular and in distributing the same. Carried.

JUNE MEETING.-The committee to whom was referred the invitation of the Lemonweir Horticultural Society, presented the following resolution:

Resolved, That we accept the invitation of the Lemonweir Valley Horticultural Society and meet with them in June next, at such day and place as they may designate, and will, at such meeting assist them in making an exhibition of strawberries, roses, and other flowers.

Which was adopted, and, on motion of General Lund, the officers of the society were authorized to make the necessary arrangements for said June meeting.

STRAWBERRIES.—In answer to an inquiry as to the removal of strawberry-plants into pots, for exhibition purposes, Mr. Peffer said he had carefully taken them up when the ground was frozen, and placed in pots in hot-beds to secure early fruit.

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