The Ben Davis, so far, has proved as hardy as many of the other varieties, and promises to fruit at an early age. The Northern Spy succeeds best in the timber counties, but is objectionable, because it is late in coming into bearing. The Domine is prized on account of its early fruiting, being an annual bearer; very productive; fair size; good color and keeping qualities. Its hardiness has not been sufficiently tested, to warrant general planting. The Yellow, Newtown Pippin is rather tender, but when planted in rich, sandy soils, is productive and profitable. Perry Russet is only productive and profitable, when planted in light, warm, sandy soils. In markets where the quality of the fruit is known, it sells fifty cents per barrel higher, than any other variety of Russet.

It is estimated that over one thousand varieties of apple trees, have been tested in this district, since 1836, and that over ninetenths of these varieties, are of no value to the commercial, and general fruit-tree planter.

An approximate estimate of the number of acres of strawberries and raspberries, and the product of marketed fruit, is one hundred and fifty acres in cultivation, with an average yield of ninety bushels per acre, makes a total of thirteen thousand five hundred bushels of fruit sent to market. The sales average $4.48 per bushel. The quantity grown for home consumption may be safely estimated to be equal to the quantity marketed. The principal variety of strawberries grown for market is the Wilson; of raspberries, Doolittle, Miami, Davison's Thornless, and Philadelphia. All these varieties have been planted in various soils with good results, proving hardy, productive, and profitable. The Davison's Thornless does not come into full bearing as soon as some other kinds of the black caps, but is considered especially valuable on account of its ripening a week to ten days earlier than other varieties, and the ability of the canes to withstand the force of the winds and a heavy weight of snow. The Kentish cherry failed to produce a crop for the first time in thirty years. Apples have been almost wholly exempt from ravages of the codling moth. Pear and appletrees were remarkably free from blight. The effects of the severe cold of the winter of 1874-75, were mostly confined to the roots of young trees, growing on elevated lands and on sandy soils, and mainly to such varieties as made a late and immature growth. The injury to bearing trees was not as severe as in younger trees, the

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roots being only partially injured. In some cases the bodies were affected by bark bursting.

In most instances bearing trees which had been mulched, trees a adjacent to natural forests, and the few orchards which were wholly or partially enclosed with timber belts, have suffered the least injury. One of orchards thus protected, was that of Mr. Samuel R. Bones, of Racine county, who says: "I have summer-fallowed my orchard for several years up to the middle of July, then putting in some crop to lie on the ground for mulch. The orchard that had millet on last year, did not lose a tree, and they were heavily loaded with fruit this season. We have nine acres of orchard, and have summer-fallowed it by plowing twice or three times, and dragging it six or eight times a year, for the last six years. The last three, have sown some crop for mulch at the last harrowing. Yield for the year 1873, 672 barrels; 1874, 270 barrels, or nearly as much as the rest of the county, it being the off year; 1875, 520 barrels. And the orchards of J. C. Howard, of the same county, one of them having the natural forest upon the west side, and the other one, having a forest growth upon the east, north and west. Many instances might be cited showing that trees are more uniformily healthy, longer lived, and more productive in the timber counties than in unprotected orchards in the prairie counties. The last season's apple crop in the timber country was more than one-half as large as the average of bearing years, while in most of the exposed orchards in the prairie country, the fruit-trees were not only more injured, but produced a very light crop.

In regard to orchard protection, Dr. E. G. Mygatt, of Kenosha county, in a letter dated December 15, says: "It would pay you to see the protection to my orchard during the past seventeen years. Only one tree has died behind my wind-break, out of one hundred and twenty trees, now about twenty years olp, and some of them of the tender kinds."

The accompanying meteorological report, as made up from the records for Milwaukee station, by L. W. Rhode, signal-service, for six months, from November, 1874, to April, 1875, inclusive, contains some important facts as to the extremes of winter temperature, etc. The collection of similar tables from different portions of the State would seem to be of the utmost importance, for the purpose of ascertaining the natural causes which have tended to produce

injury, thereby rendering the pursuit of horticulture less experimental, and less liable to failure.

Summary of observations taken at Milwaukee.

November, 1874 30.075 35.50 NW. 2.64 30.665 18 29.032

December, 1874. 30.142 25.40 NW. 1.00

30.885 31 29.560

29.302 15 74 6 12 16

Highest velocity of wind-November 23, 1874, 44; December 18, 1874, 35; January 1, 1875, 36; February 3, 1875, 144; March 15, 1875, 52; April 15, 1875, 51.

SECOND DISTRICT—J. C. PLUMB, MILTON, COMMITTEE. COUNTIES-Walworth, Rock, Green, Dane, La Fayette, Iowa, and Grant.-This district embraces the entire southern tier of counties except that of Kenosha, on the lake, and with Dane and Grant, comprise the oldest and most developed agricultural and mineral districts in the State. Its superficial geology is almost a unit, and having no large body of water to modify its climate, the experience of fruit-growers is about the same in all portions of the district. The exceptions to these general statements are found in the different conditions of soil and subsoil found on prairie, opening, and timber, in valleys and on high lands, and on the local influence of rivers and small lakes. We shall also have occasion to note the results of planting on high, bleak, cool localities compared with the low, rich lands, or warm, sheltered localities. Wishing mainly to let our correspondents give testimony, we quote short abstracts from their communications. Commencing with Walworth county, my informant, J. L. Tubbs, Esq., says: "About five-sixths of the area was originally wooded lands-mostly oak-openings, balance prairie, rather rolling. The wood lands, best for fruit-growing; the most successful on high ground, between the water-courses. Of varieties of apple, the Astrachan takes the lead for early; Red June, scabs; Sweet June, fine; Duchess also, but seems especially subject to attack of curculio. Autumn Strawberry, Bailey Sweet, Fameuse, and Fall Orange all doing well; Rawle's Janet the most profitable

winter apple; Northern Spy, Seek-no-Further, Willard, all valuable; Toiman Sweets, enough for all. Flemish Beauty is the pear; Early Richmond and Late Richmond cherries are grown more than all others, and yield fine crops; of strawberries, Wilson, forever.' Rock county reports about equally divided between prairie and timber, with much the same experience with varieties as Walworth county. The most promising orchards, on the oak lands, and on elevated, airy location; the northern slope showing best condition, and most free from trouble of all kinds. All the ridges lying high enough for the lime-stone formation are especially successful. N. N. Palmer, of Western Rock, says of an orchard planted in 1851, on steep northwestern slope, gravel soil, root killed spring of 1873, while his own on very high ground but in better soil and in grass escaped injury: Several good orchards ruined by the canker-worm; cleaned his out with Paris-green sprinkled on in solution.

L. Rote, Esq., of Monroe, Green county, says: The soil in this county is mainly composed of decomposed magnesian limestone, which is the surface rock over nearly all its area. The highest lands, which are the divide between Sugar river and the waters which run west to the Pecatonica, are about three hundred feet above Rock river, and run across the county from the southeast corner to near the northwest corner. Upon these highlands I find the thriftiest orchards, and also the most fruitful. I also find that many varieties that are in lower situations tender, do well here. There are also some other elevated places extending east and west from this water-shed, that have thrifty orchards. Old orchards, especially on the prairies, have been destroyed during the last eight years by the canker worm, and they are now making raids upon the orchards generally, so much so that the people have become almost totally discouraged about planting again. I believe that if people would plant good wind brakes of evergreens and young orchards on the high lands, in twenty years, this county would have apples to export, but so long as they plant in low places and in black soil, they will meet with utter failure; even the hardiest varieties will perish, and shelter will be of little use.

Another correspondent says, the "most successful orchards are on medium elevations, deep, dark soil, where the clay sub-soil is well below the surface. The most favorable aspect is northwest.

The southern slopes, giving too early flow of sap in spring, and late. growth in fall;" varieties about the same as others recommended.

Joel Barber, of Lancaster, Grant county, says: Orchards in the sandy valleys and declivities have generally been failures. The same may be said of warm, alluvial bottoms, except the great bottoms along the Wisconsin and Mississippi. At Boscobel, which is upon the Wisconsin bottom, the results of fruit-culture have been very encouraging. In all the regions mentioned thus far, the Siberians and most small-fruits are entirely successful, as elsewhere, I now come to the upland, which is the real orchard ground of this county. A considerable portion of our upland is prairie, with a rich, black soil, with clay subsoil. The rest is a lighter soil covered originally with timber and openings. The timber land is considered the best for orchards, and wherever people have used due care in the planting and cultivation of orchards, their disappointments have been few. Newness of land, I am satisfied, is one of the greatest natural obstacles. Winter-killing can be ascribed to no other fault in some cases. The same principle applies with more force to prairie soils. I am satisfied that old, worn-out fields, with some manure are most favorable to the production of sound wood and durable trees. It must be borne in mind that cultivation of the soil is one of the first conditions of success. Localities sloping to the south are sometimes quite successful, but those lying near the highest land and sloping to the north or east are generally more reliable and much more fruitful.

Mr. Ellwood, of Dodgeville, Iowa county, says: The most successful orchards are in the timber, and recommends the hardy list of apples right through.

Wm. Finlayson, of western Dane county, says their "bluffs are full of limestone, and all the hardy fruits do well on them. All the small-fruits do well in the valleys. The most successful orchards are on the hill-tops, and timber land preferred to prairie." All of these correspondents speak favorably of the small-fruit culture as successful when properly attended to, and of grape-culture, in particular, as very satisfactory.

THIRD DISTRICT-E. H. BENTON, LE ROY, COMMITTEE.

COUNTIES-Jefferson, Dodge, Calumet, and Fond du Lac.-The