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26       WISCONSIN STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
who have been instructed by the horticultural societies in that state, to
use their
influence with the committee of ways and means to have the importation of
trees
and plants again placed on the free list, as prior to 1860.
Resolved, That our Corresponding Secretary is hereby requested to forward
to
each member from Wisconsin of our national legislature at Washington, a copy
of
these resolutions immediately after the adjournment of this meeting.
In support of these resolutions,
Mr. SCOFIELD gave much-valuable information on the present tariff on foreign
seeds, and urged the necessity of removing that tariff, that such seeds might
be
-readily obtained for supplying the prairie country, now destitute, with
trees. That,
instead of discouraging the propagation and growth of these trees, every
effort
ought rather to be used to encourage that growth, and the planting of trees
that are
to supply the demands of commerce. He was willing to concede the value of
our
native pines, as very rapid growers and valuable trees, when planted out
and cared
for as they should be; but he contended that the European larch was even
more
valuable, and made more growth in its ea-ly years, and was a more durable
wood.
It was perfectly hardy, and well adapted to the climate and soil of this
region.
Speaking from his own experience in growing this larch, he had trees, four
years
after setting, that were valuable for posts and stakes for grape vines, and
in ten
years they would make from two to four fence posts. He gave instances of
their
durability when set in the ground, showing it as durable as any other timber.
The
American is not as valuable, because it requires a low, wet soil, while the
European
grows on high, dry lands.
The resolutions were adopted.
PRODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES.
Mr. G. E. MORROW read the following paper on this subject:
In the year 1845 " Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America "
was published.
It contained descriptions of 1,005 varieties of fruits. In 1869 a third edition
of
the work was published, containing descriptions of 4,552 varieties of fruits
of  25  kinds.  In  the  first edition  109  varieties of  apples were de-
scribed; in the last 1,885; then 54 varieties of grapes were named; now 233;
then 33 varieties of strawberries; now 257. These figures show a remarkable
increase in the number of varieties, within a little less than 25 years.
Add to
them the multitude of unnamed varieties of local repute, and the uncounted
num-
ber of new seedlings to be found in most parts of the country, and it might
seem
there was no need for the production of new varieties. But, even in the most
favored sections of our country, comparatively few of this great number of
varieties
succeed well, and here in the northwest it is especially needful that we
have a
greater number of varieties adapted to our peculiar conditions of climate
and soil
How many varieties of apples, pears, plums, grapes, strawberries, etc., can
this so-
ciety name as in all respects worthy of cultivation in this state? None know
better
than some who hear this, how much we need a larger number of hardy, productive