History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 72

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304

USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Wisconsin > Part 72

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481

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

of the State fair in Madison. In 1861, the grounds were used by the General Government for a rendezvous for soldiers ; and, for the next nine years, no county fair was held.

At a meeting of the citizens of Dane County, held at the court house, in the city of Mad- ison, on the 14th day of May, 1870, for the purpose of taking into consideration the subject of organizing a County Agricultural Society, the proceedings were as follows :

The meeting was called to order by R. W. Lansing, of Blooming Grove, who stated the object for which the meeting was called.

And William R. Taylor, of Cottage Grove, was chosen as Chairman, and O. S. Willey, of Madison City, was selected as Secretary of the meeting.

Remarks were made by several persons, favoring the formation of such a society, and it was resolved that a County Agricultural Society in Dane County should be formed.

A committee of five, consisting of George C. Russell, of Madison ; Dr. W. H. Fox, of Fitchburg; E. A. Spencer, of Windsor ; George E. Bryant, of Blooming Grove, and E. Wood Cornes, of Mazomanie, were appointed by the Chair to prepare a plan of organization, and draft a constitution for the consideration of a future meeting, when the meeting adjourned until the 28th day of May.

An adjourned meeting was held on the 28th of May, at the court house, William R. Taylor in the chair, and O. S. Willey acting as Secretary ; when the committee appointed at a previous meeting for that purpose, reported a plan for organization, and submitted the form of a consti- tution drafted by them, for the consideration of the meeting ; which, on the motion of Thomas S. Allen, was read to the meeting, and, after some slight amendments being made, was, on the motion of William T. Leitch, of the city of Madison, adopted.

A committee of five, consisting of James P. McPherson, of Springdale; Joseph Main, of Rut- land; E. A. Spencer, of Windsor ; H. M. Warner, of Black Earth, and W. T. Leitch, of the city of Madison, were appointed to nominate officers for the society, and who reported the following- named persons for officers, respectively, and they were elected as officers of the society for the year 1870, viz .:

President-William R. Taylor, Cottage Grove; Secretary-George C. Russell, Town of Madison ; Treasurer-George A. Mason, City of Madison.

Board of Trustees : First Assembly District-George E. Bryant, Blooming Grove ; Sec- ond Assembly District -- Clement E. Warner, Windsor ; Third Assembly District-Matthew Anderson, Cross Plains; Fourth Assembly District-James P. McPherson, Springdale ; Fifth Assembly District-William T. Leitch, City of Madison ; Eleventh Senatorial District-Rich- ard D. Frost, Blooming Grove; Twenty-sixth Senatorial District-David Ford, Springfield.

The first meeting of the officers and Trustees was held on the 7th day of June, 1870, at the rooms of the State Agricultural Society, in the State capitol at Madison, at which meeting the premium list was arranged, and September 20, 21 and 22, was fixed as the time, and the fair grounds in the City of Madison, the place, for holding the first fair.

The first fair was held at the fair grounds in the city of Madison, on the 20th, 21st and 22d of September, 1870, and was a gratifying success to the friends of the society, there being. a good attendance, and a fine exhibition of the general products of the county ; the receipts of the society during the fair being $2,111.09. The officers of the society, encouraged by the suc- cess of their efforts in their first fair, felt that it was necessary to secure some permanent grounds to hold the annual exhibitions of the society, secured aid from the county in purchasing a tract of about eight acres adjoining the State Agricultural Society's grounds, and the city limits. This tract containing, as it did, most of the stock sheds and stables heretofore used by the State Agricultural Society when holding its fairs at Madison, it places the county society in a position whereby they have permanent grounds and ample accommodations for their future exhibitions.

The society have held annual fairs from 1870 to 1877 inclusive, since which time the State Fairs have been held at Madison, and the county society has maintained its organization, but has held no exhibitions.

482

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Since the organization of the society, the annual exhibitions have steadily increased in value, and have become a matter of general interest to citizens of the county, as may be seen by the following table of the receipts and disbursements of the society.

YEAR.

RECEIPTS.

DISBURSEMENTS.

PREMIUMS PAID,

1870

$2,111 09

$2,095 94

$1,057 15

1871

2,787 33

2,765 41

1,329 92

1872.

5,012 95

5,050 02

2,891 50

1873

2,799 34

2,768 22

485 00

1874.

4,877 80

4,483 74

1,698 87

1875

3,382 53

3,807 71

2,221 77

1876 ..

3,413 83

3,396 21

1,879 50

1877.

8,622 24

3,620 72

2,000 45

1878*

1,105 00

1,119 32

65 53

Total

$29,112 11

$29,107 29

$13,629 69

The following is a list of the principal officers of the society from its organization to the present time :

Presidents-William R. Taylor, 1871-72; Matthew Anderson, 1873 to 1879 inclusive; W. C. Kiser, 1879-80.

Secretaries-George C. Russell, 1871; O. S. Willey, 1872; George C. Russell, 1873 to 1880 inclusive.

Treasurers-George A. Mason, 1871-72; James L. Hill, 1873; William T. McConnel, 1874 to the present time.

HORTICULTURE AND THE MADISON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. +

To speak of the history of horticulture in Dane County, a county the existence of which began, as it were, but yesterday, seems somewhat like pretension. But when we reflect for a moment, that history is often made up in the very briefest periods of time, in the most circum- scribed geographical limits, or observe the efforts which are everywhere being made to unravel the mysteries of the origin of nations, and, above all, the great interest taken by the wisest and greatest of our time in such efforts, we need not shrink from recording the progress in any or all the arts, ornamental or useful, of any portion of our people, or of any part, though it be only a small part, of our State of Wisconsin.

Besides, if it were given me to make choice of a subject, by the discussion of which I could best show the progress of our citizens of Dane, I should prefer that of horticulture to any other. For it has ever been found that in proportion as nations become educated, cultured and affluent, they become horticultural. It was the great and wise Lord Bacon who said, " Man shall ever see, that when ages grow into civility and elegance, men come to build stately edifices sooner than to garden finely, as if gardening were the greater perfection."

The art of horticulture is of slow growth, simply because it cannot be taught ; it must be learned. Practically speaking, it is not to be bodily transplanted from one country to another, scarcely from one State to another, nor, indeed, always from one county to another, especially in this State. If we seek success in horticulture by imitating the horticultural processes of other places, we find to our grief that imitation is the mother of ill luck. If we seek success in learning for ourselves by our own labor and thought and close observation, we find, though our progress is slow, it is progress. Nor is there any other wise course open to us. We are, if not a new people, at least a people laboring under new conditions. Wisconsin is not horticult- urally a California nor a Massachusetts. We cannot take either of these States for our example in horticulture, nor, indeed, as I have already said, can we adopt in this particular any State for our example; we must learn for ourselves.

* No fair held io 1878.

+ From the pan of Dr. Joseph Hobbias, of Madison.

483

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

For the soundness of this assertion, I would bid you look around over this county, mark the blasted and ruined orchards, and listen to the stories of fruit-tree failures as told by our people. These trees were brought from the East, from the Middle States, and, occasionally, from the South. Some four hundred varieties of apple trees have thus been tried in this State, and, as with the apple tree, so with other fruit trees. This is imitation, and the result disappoint- ment, disgust, and loss of time and money. It is art without science.

Now comes science, taking art by the hand, and saying to her, "Follow me." A new era began in horticulture. Men commenced to learn something of the climate, something of the soil, the aspect, the proper elevation, the best method of treating the tree and the best kind of trees to grow. The observer, warned by the folly of imitating men a thousand miles away, began to look over his neighbor's fence, watch his neighbor's success, learn the conditions of that suc- cess, and then, and not until then, plant and watch for himself. This is the plan of to-day, and this is the plan that is giving us, in spite of our short doings, fruit, and enough in variety and quantity and quality for our people of Dane County.

Is this historical ? I answer, it is the record of a revolution in horticulture in our county as well as in the surrounding counties, and in its importance deserves to be so considered as a lesson to the future.

The history of horticulture in Dane County would seem to commence in 1845, in which year, as J. C. Plumb informs me, he first peddled fruit trees from a wagon in Madison and through the county.

H. A. Tenney says : " In 1847, there was no such thing, practically speaking, as fruit in Dane County. There came in, soon afterward, a few currants from John Hand's nursery, near Black Earth, and some Fastolf raspberries, which were sold at $3 per dozen canes. A few more currants were brought in by some settlers about the same time, particularly by M. MacFadden, in the south corner of the county. It was about 1854 that Simeon Mills, Alexander Botkin and myself sent to Rochester, N. Y., for some fruit trees, but at that time there were no orchards in bearing in the county, and it was claimed that fruit could not be raised here."

Mr. Ernest Sommers, in 1850, planted an orchard of eight hundred trees in Farwell's Addi- tion for ex-Gov. Farwell, and began to plant for himself in 1853.

Mr. Larkins had a small orchard, at the same time, near the present city cemetery. There was also a fair new orchard at Sugar River in 1850. Peter Matts, of Verona, and W. A. Wheeler had young orchards. With these, and perhaps some other exceptions, there were but a few scattering fruit trees.

Independent of the above gentlemen, growing fruit trees, but coming later, were John Hand, in the city ; Plumb, Willey & Co. and Chandler, of Rock Terrace Nurseries ; Howie, of West- port ; a nursery at Black Earth ; Bell, of Vermont ; the Turvilles, on Lake Monona; the Adamses, now of this city ; and others.

Says Mr. Plumb : "In 1857, Jonathan French, of Fitchburg, was the only exhibitor of apples from Dane County, at the county fair held in Madison, which called for mention in the published report of the Secretary for that year. From 1850 to 1860, the Rev. Mr. Cannouse, of Cottage Grove, was a large planter of choice fruit trees, which, however, did not prove suc- cessful, his soil not being adapted to the experiment. In the spring of 1858, I started the seventy-sixth nursery northeast of the city, in company with D. J. Powers, and subsequently with O. S. Willey, which was continued independently on Lake Monona's shore until 1867. In 1859, L. B. Chandler started upon the Robbins farm, and continued until his death, in 1867. There was a small nursery near Sun Prairie, by a Mr. Swan, from 1859 to 1866, and one also in the town of Blooming Grove for a few years.

My own horticultural reminiscences extend as far back as 1855. The only cultivated fruit I could buy upon one occasion in this year (I mean as grown in Madison), was 10 cents' worth of pie-plant, out of almost the only fruit garden in the city. To be sure, there were two, and only two, grape-vines in the city at that time (Clintons, I think they were), and I did not know any other, though, possibly enough, there might have been one or two more in the county.

484

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Few flowers were grown in those days. The only flower garden proper that I remember belonged to G. P. Delaplaine, and was attached to his cottage on the square; and the only vegetable and fruit garden to Col. Fairchild, on Monona Lake.

It was reserved for the Madison Horticultural Society to give the needed impetus to fruit planting, flower growing, landscape gardening and rural art in general, for which nature, in the beautiful and scenic surroundings of both city and country, had so bountifully provided.

This society was organized July 17, 1858, and chartered March 29, 1861. It is the parent society of all similar societies in the State. Some of its officers, as William T. Leitch and myself, have been its President or Secretary for over twenty years. The society has invariably held three exhibitions in the year ; and for many years monthly winter discussions of papers always published. It is possessed of ample funds, of which it is proposed to spend in the future a liberal amount in planting shade trees and otherwise beautifying the city.

It may be permitted me to add that it was at one of the meetings, in 1858, of the society, that the question was raised as to whether grapes could be grown in this State. Out of the dis- cussion of this question grew my experimenting with the grape. Since then I have tested over 400 varieties, and at the present have some ninety or more varieties in my garden. In order to convince the people of the State that grapes could be grown, and to induce them to grow them, I raised for many years some 400 plants yearly, and scattered them broadcast.

To-day we have an abundance of the best varieties of grape, of the apple, crab, pear, plum, cherry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, currant, etc., by which it can be readily judged that fruit has grown, does grow, and will continue to grow, most luxuriantly in our county, if we only pay it the attention that every living thing, animal or vegetable, requires for its well being.

No one, indeed, can drive through our towns without noticing that every decent-looking. farmhouse has its orchard, large or small, its kitchen-garden, its little sprinkling of flowers, and more or less of that out-door ornamentation that tells of taste and ease and comfort within.

And so, to some extent, with the more primitive log cabin, the pioneer home of the West. Very few of them but what possess some scattering fruit-trees, many of them, especially among the Germans, a little vineyard, all alike struggling into a better state of things.

An article on the horticulture of the county would scarcely be complete without something more than an allusion to its flowers, nor, indeed, without a proper notice of its vegetables. Of the latter it may be justly said that, for years past, no finer varieties, or growth, or greater number of varieties can be found on this side of the Rocky Mountains than are found in Dane County.

And of the cultivated flowers, some estimate may be formed by the statement furnished us by Mrs. Williams,* for years one of the most active and observant members of the city horticult- ural society. She estimates the number of varieties of flowers at about two hundred. This number is, I think, too low, as I have grown in my own garden one hundred and twenty varieties in one year. Of house plants, over one hundred and fifty varieties; of foliage plants, over one hundred varieties ; of flowering shrubs, hardy, half-hardy and tender, some seventy-five to a hundred varieties, and of roses, at least a hundred varieties. This is truly a goodly array, horticulturally considered, for Dane County ; and if, as seems so justly claimed, it be granted that advanced horticulture is one of the best and most constant expressions of a highly advanced state of society, then, indeed, has our county of Dane great reason to be satisfied with its social standing-second to none in the Northwest.

FLORA.+

The first flower of spring is generally to be found about the middle of March, on the east hillside. It is the spiritual Anemone Pulsatilla, pasque-flower, supposed to open only when the wind blows. Each flower-stalk bears several gray, silky leaves, crowncd with a single large, cro- cus-shaped flower of white, tinted with pink and blue.

#Mrs. Williams ie the owner of the Third Ward Conservatory, so many years successfully managed by J. T. Stevens. +By Mrs. H. M. Lewis, of Madison.

485

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

The Hepatica, liver-leaf, is the next comer, with lovely white, delicate purple and pink flowers, all crowded together like a nestful of little birds. This dear flower is the sweetest mes- senger of spring. It should be the American poet's flower. Our two varieties are the H. tri- loba (round-lobed Hepatica), and H. acutiloba (sharp-lobed Hepatica).

The Sanguinaria, blood-root, with pure white blossom and bud like wax, enveloped in a robe of pale green, is most beautiful. The root is filled with a fluid resembling blood.

Another familiar friend sure to be near (for plants choose their company) is the Anemone Nemorosa, wind-flower, wood-anemone of poetic fame, and A. parviflora. We have several vari- eties coming later.

Thalictrum anemonoides, rue anemone and Isopyrum biternatum, in aspect and size, closely resembles the Anemone nemarosa.

The Dicentra, Dutchman's breeches, is a_perennial, having finely divided leaves, from the midst of which arises a scape, having a one-sided raceme of white or creamy pendulous flowers. The Corydalis aurea (golden C.) belongs to the same family, and resembles the Dutchman's breeches, only the corolla is golden.

The Claytonea, spring beauty, belongs to the Portulacacea family. The single stem bears a pair of opposite narrow leaves, and a loose raceme of pretty flowers ; corolla rose-color, with deeper veins. It was named in honor of Dr. John Clayton, one of our earliest botanists.

Crucifera Dentaria, pepper-root, is sometimes mistaken for the Claytonea. It blossoms with it, and somewhat resembles it. Caetha, marsh marigold, is a well-known golden-colored · flower found growing in wet places. It is commonly called cowslip. The cowslip is a plant not related to the marsh marigold.

The dandelion, Taraxacum, with its familiar face, needs no introduction to us in the Mid- dle Western States, but, in the far Northwest, it is a stranger.

The Ranunculus, crowfoot, buttercup, is a common, well-known flower, named by Pliny for a little frog, the R. reptans (creeping crowfoot), R. fasciculares (early crowfoot), R. aquatilis (white water crowfoot), R. multifidus (yellow water crowfoot), R. abortivus (small-flowered crow- foot), are all found growing in and around Lake Mendota.

The violet, viola, heart's-ease,

"The first, the fairest thing That heaven upon the earth doth fling,"

is found growing abundantly in our woods. The V. blanda (sweet white V.), the V. cucullata (common blue V.), V. sagittata (arrow-leaved V.), V. delphinifolia (Larkspur V.), V. pedata (bird-foot V.), are the varieties most frequently seen.

The Trillium, Wake Robin (name from trilix, triple, all its parts being in threes). It is sometimes called Trinity Flower. The T. grandiflorum, with large, white, beautiful lily, is the one usually seen ; but the T. pectum grows freely in some localities. This variety grows only in North America.

Belles integrifolia, Western Daisy, abounds in a few localities; its rays are of violet purple.

Phlox Divaricata Laphamii (named after our lamented Dr. Lapham) comes in bloom early in May ; stems spreading, color blue, with a purple tinge. P. glabirrima is rose-colored ; comes later. P. pilosa is another fine variety ; color, pink purple.

Aquilegia Canadensis, Wild Columbine, commonly called honey-suckle, from having & drop of honey secreted in the spur of the flower, but it is in reality not related to the honey- suckle family. These beautiful, pendulous, scarlet flowers, yellow inside, are well known, and very generally admired.

Polemonium reptans, Jacob's Ladder, is a lovely sky-blue flower, with white eye, often called erroneously, Forget-Mc-Not.

The Dodecatheon (name from the twelve gods or divinities), commonly called Shooting Star and American Cowslip. It is well known in the West. An Eastern floral magazine says, "It is a rare flower, seldom or never seen in the North," which is a mistake. The flowers are borne

486

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

in clusters, pure white, or tinted light rose coler or lavender, with petals thrown back from the center like cyclamen.

Uvularia grandiflora, Bellwort, belongs to the Lily family ; grows about a foot high ; flowers light yellow, drooping.

Polygonatum, Solomon's Seal, is a perennial found in rich woods. P. biflorum (smaller Solomon's Seal) and P. giganteum (Great S. S.) are the true varieties of the false Solomon's Seal. We have three varieties-Smilacina stellata, S. trifolia and S. bifolia. Gerarde said, in 1590, that " the root of Solomon's Seal, stamped while green, and applied, taketh away in ene night any bruise, black or blue spots, gotten by (falls or woman's wilfulnesse in stumbling upon their hasty husband's fists, or such like."

Castilleia, Painted Cup, is one of the most showy of the Western flowers. Spreading masses, or patches, used to be seen for miles on our prairies. It will not bear cultivation, as it is a root parasite. The C. coccinea is the variety usually seen, but the C. sessiliflera and C. pallida are met with occasionally.

The Lupinus perennis, Quaker Bonnets, a few years ago, grew so bountifully that they could be gathered by the armful ; but, alas ! now they are becoming so rare that they are almost unknown, as they grow in the wild state.

Lithospermum is a coarse but showy biennial, of bright orange color, that grows in large clusters ; the L. hirtum (Hairy Puccoon) and L. Canescens (Hoary Puccoon er Alkanet) are the common varieties.

The Cypripedium (name signifying Venus' slipper), Moccasin flower, is curious and beautiful ; the C. candidum (small white Lady's slipper), C. pubescens (larger yellow L.), C. parviflorum (smaller yellow L.), and the spectabile, the most beautiful one of the genus, are found within a radins of two miles from Madison.

The Orchis spectabilis, Showy Orchis-the only species of the Orchis preper in the United Seates, is frequently met with. Flower stem about six inches high, flowers rose-celor, and white, pretty.

The Hydrophyllum Virginicum, Water Leaf, grows freely in rich woods. The large, green leaf is blotched with white, early in the spring, flowers pinkish-violet, stamens protruding. H. appendiculatum is more rarely seen.

The Geranium maculatum, Cranesbill, is a showy, well-known rose-colored flower, grow- ing freely in fence-corners and edges of woods. The Arum (name signifying mark), Jack-in-the Pulpit, is a well-known and interesting flower ; color, light green and brown, with deeper brown spots. The legend is that "it was at the foot of the cross, and stained by the dropping blood of Jesus."

Smilax herbacea, Carrion Flower, is a half climber, leaves glossy, heart-shaped, flower white, tinted with green.

Iris, Flower-de-luce (from the Greek, the rainbow deified), is found growing in water er on low lands, common variety is I. versicolor (large blue flag).

Podophyllum, May Apple, Mandrake. The flowering stem bears two one-sided large leaves with nodding, wax-like flowers from the fork of the leaf.

The Mustard family is a large one, many of them Arctic plants, therefore, doubly interest- ing. Of this family we might mention the Water and Rock Cress, Cuckoo Flower, Pepper-root, Shepherd's-purse and many others, did space permit, but will only specify the Erysimum Arkansanum, Western Wall-flower, the same highly advertised by Vick and others. The color is yellow, very fragrant.

The Tradescantia Virginica, Spiderwort, has intensely blue flowers, produced every morning, from early June to September ; foliage grass-like, cultivated in flower-gardens at the East.

The Rose-the flower of love, poetry and song, can be found growing over the river banks, the prairies, and by the roadsides, always a thing of beauty. The Blanda (early wild Rose) and Lucida (Dwarf wild Rose) are the only native varieties.

com Weld.

MADISON.

489

HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

I have endeavored to name, as nearly as possible, the flowers in the succession as they appear from March to the middle of June. A few of our most beautiful and noted flowers com- ing later are, the two Field Lilies, Philadelphicum (Wild Orange, Red Lily), and L. Canadensis (Wild Yellow Lily), Nymphia (White Water Lily), Sarracenia (Side-saddle Flower), four varieties of Gentians, Lobelia (Cardinal Flower), Monatropa (Indian Pipe). In all probability a thou- sand species of plants could be gathered in Dane County alone, while in the adjacent counties many more could be added, as the flora differs greatly in the counties north and west.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 72

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1304

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304