the Russets seem to have done much the best, and in many instances bore a full crop, perfect in form and quality, while other kinds, the Willow Twig, especially, were very imperfect, one sided, and gnarly. Deficient development of fruit was doubtless the direct result of deficient foliage.

RULES RELATING TO EXHIBITION.- Considerable discussion was had in relation to a growing laxity in enforcing the rules governing exhibitions at the State Fair, and the consequent evils springing from this source, which resulted in the passage of the following resolutions :

Resolved, That all competition for premiums which may be offered hereafter by this society, shall be upon the express condition that all fruits and flowers so exhibited shall be actually grown by the exhibitor.

Resolved, That hereafter we will strictly enforce the rule excluding from competition all fruits and flowers arriving on the grounds after the time specified in our premium list.

On motion of Mr. Stickney, the President, Secretary and Senator Anderson were appointed a committee to secure an enlargement of, and an increase in the number of copies of our transactions, and such other legislation as may be needed.

Society adjourned sine die.

TRANSACTIONS AT ANNUAL MEETING.

AGRICULTURAL ROOMS,

MADISON, February 3, 1879, 7 P. M.

In accordance with Article V of the constitution of the society, which provides that the opening session of the annual meeting "shall be held on the Monday next preceding the first Tuesday of February in each year," and the notice issued by the president and secretary in pursuance therewith, the society convened at seven and one-half o'clock P. M., in the Agricultural Rooms at Madison. The presiden, in calling the society to order, stated that as so much of the time allotted for our annual meeting was taken up in joint convention with the Agricultural Society, it was important we should improve the time devoted to special meetings of the society in the transaction of business. As a member of the committee appointed at the time of the fair to take into consideration the question of asking further aid from the state, he would say that the committee had not had any opportunity for combined action, and had no definite report to make. He thought, however, that it was advisable to ask for an increase in the size of our report, and of the number of copies printed, and an annual appropriation of one thousand dollars. The usefulness of the society was now crippled for the want of means, and the work done was too heavy a tax to be borne wholly by individuals. He was in favor of asking for state aid at the present time, but had thought it would be advisable to reorganize the society, if this was done, so as to assume closer relations to the state, reporting direct to the governor, and by accounting to him, show just what was done with the means placed at our disposal. He had not formned any definite plan in which this could be done, but had received a communication from the secretary which embodied, in the main, his views, and which he would like to have read so as to bring the subject before the society.

In response to the call for the reading of the communication, the secretary remarked, that, as a member of the committee on this subject, he had felt that it was best to make application for aid from the state. The society had never received a dollar from the public treasury; never had asked for one. All the aid it had ever received was the publication of its report by the state. Members of the legislature had often spoken with approval of the work of the society, and had expressed a willingness to do what they could to secure anything we needed for the carrying on of our work. There were certain reasons that made the present time rather unfavorable for the application, but he thought that if it were presented in the proper form, it would be granted. Thinking that if we received an appropriation from the state, we ought to report direct to the governor, showing the work done, and for what the money received was used, he had hurriedly drawn up a plan for the reorganization of the society with this end in view, and to increase the chances of obtaining the desired aid. This he had sent to some of the leading members of the society for their consideration, not as a definite plan, but as a basis for movement in this direction.

The plan was then read (as it is given almost in an identical form where it was brought up for final action, it is omitted here). The subject gave rise to considerable discussion, which indicated a general opinion that it was best to make the application for aid, and that it was advisable, as calculated to promote the success of the application, to reorganize the society in the manner proposed; and on motion, the subject was referred to a committee consisting of F. W. Case, J. C. Plumb, and J. S. Stickney.

Mr. Plumb offered an amendment to the constitution and by-laws of the society.

The amendment embraced many changes from the present form. The constitution and by-laws were read at length, giving the proposed changes (amendment given in connection with the report of the committee), which after some debate was referred to a committee consisting of Mr. J. C. Plumb, T. D. Pilgrim and Geo. P. Peffer, with instructions to report subsequent to report of committee on reorganization.

The president extended a very cordial invitation to the society to hold its summer meeting at Green Bay, in connection with and as the guests of the Brown County Horticultural Society.

On motion of Mr. Kellogg, this invitation was accepted, the date of the meeting being left to be decided by the local society.

On motion, the regular committees were appointed as follows: On Arrangement of Order of Business-George J. Kellogg, A. G. Tuttle and A. J. Phillips.

On Revision of Premium List -J. S. Stickney, Geo. J. Kellogg and J. C. Plumb.

On Conference with the State Agricultural Society - J. S. Stick

ney.

On Fruit on Exhibition—J. C. Plumb, Geo. P. Peffer and C. H. Greenman.

On Legislation J. M. Smith, J. S. Stickney and J. C. Plumb.

President Smith stated that he had received a communication from Mr. Hiram Smith, one of the Board of Regents of the University, conveying the information that the regents were contemplating the organization of a system of agricultural and horticultural lectures, to be given by different lecturers, at various location, and at the expense and under the control of the agricultural department of the University, and requesting the co-operation of the Horticultural Society to further this object.

This was heartily indorsed by all present, and in accordance therewith, C. H. Greenman and W. Reynolds were appointed a committee to confer with the regents on the subject.

The committee on order of business reported as follows:
February 4, 10:00 A. M., President's Address.

10:30 A. M., Secretary's report.

10:45 Revision of fruit lists and report of committees. 2:00 P. M., Treasurer's report, report of superinintendent and committees of observation.

3:00 P. M., Election of officers.

4:00 P. M., Reports and discussions.

Which was accepted and adopted, and the society adjourned.

After calling the society to order, the president delivered his annual address, as follows:

OPENING ADDRESS.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the State Horticultural Society: Since our last annual meeting, another year has fled; and its deeds, whether for good or ill, have passed into history. Again we meet together, and it is well that we do so; as these yearly meetings come none too often, let us make the most of them. Let us forget for the time being that it is, and for a number of years past has been, hard times; that with those engaged in the nursery business, it has in many cases been peculiarly trying. I need not recount the causes of these embarrassments; they are well known to you all. If we look at the past, as we may and should, the lessons of the last five years will do much toward guiding us correctly in the future. But, while we can learn from the past, let us not at this time brood or repine over the misfortunes that have in some cases caused the furrows upon our brows to deepen, and the hair of our heads to whiten faster than was its wont. Let us rather remember the many blessings and happy days that have been ours; let us look forward to the brighter days that we believe are in the near future; let us counsel together how we may make them the most valuable, not only to ourselves, but to others all about us.

As regards the portion of the state that I, in part, represent, there is no doubt but there is a decided change for the better in regard to fruit culture in its various branches. The strawberry crop of last season was a very large one, and has probably never been equaled in that portion of the state. Raspberries and blackberries grow wild in such immense quantities, that it is about useless to attempt their cultivation for the market. The grape crop was injured by the late frost of last spring, and was only a moderate one. The cultivation of this fruit is yet in its infancy in that portion of the state, the supply not being equal to one-tenth of the demand. Enough has been done to demonstrate the fact that many of our