issued. Our only resort, then, to save the patrons of the Society from fraud was to print and issue the following certificates, stamped with the name of the Secretary, on the Fair grounds:

The bearer of this ticket has been in attendance at the State Fair, and, by arrangement with the Superintendent of your railroad is entitled to return Free. J. W. HOYT, Sec'y W. S. A. S JANESVILLE, September, 1864.

But even this certificate was in many cases disregarded, and the money extorted by threats to put the passengers off the train. As bearing directly and conclusively upon this subject, we take the liberty of quoting the high authority of Col. B. R. Hinkley, President of the Society, and of the Hon. David Williams, President elect. The former told us that he was himself witness of scenes on the North-western Railroad that should subject either its managers or their employees to the severest condemnation. Not only visitors, but even exhibitors, with their exhibitors' tickets in their hands, and lady exhibitors at that, were subjected to the alternative of paying their fare or being put off the train.

As we have the written words of Mr. Williams, we are able to publish his statement in his own language, to wit:

I will give you some facts that came under my observation. On Thursday of Fair week a number of

passengers took tickets at Clinton, for Janesville.

The conductor, on taking those tickets, was informed by the passengers that they were going to the Fair, and they asked for return tickets. At first he gave return checks, but before he got through the car, he refused to give any more, giving, as a reason, that he was ordered not to give them. On the return of these passengers, on the Friday following, those who had return checks the conductor passed; but of those to whom he had refused them, he demanded full fare. Most if not all of those had provided themselves with the return tickets issued by the Society. Of the la

dies, the old men, and the children, he got pay. Some

men who refuaed to pay were left undisturbed; others,

I am informed, were put off the train. I know the train was twice stopped where there was no station,

and those who went forward to learn the cause in

formed me that in both cases men and women were forcibly ejected from the train. I paid my fare, as I wished to avoid an altercation, feeling too indisposed to risk any excitement. This train was in

persons free, and the money extorted could be recovered. But the recovery would cost more than the amount saved, and so nobody has thought of entering a prosecution. It was none the less a fraud, however, and, since it must have the effect to discourage attendance at our future fairs, we have felt bound to make this plain statement of the whole case. In other states, the railroad companies issue round trip excursion tickets at half rates, and are not so nice about waiting up to the last moment before the opening of the Fair, either. Why the roads in Wisconsin, dependent as they are upon the progress of agriculture, which it is the office of our exhibitions to foster and advance, should pursue a narrow and illiberal policy towards her industrial associations, is beyond our comprehension. Let us hope that next year there will be an improvement in this important regard, and that the Fair of 1865 will, in all respects, be a triumphant success.

THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 1865

was held at the Hyatt House, on Thursday evening, September 29th, with the following result:

President-David Williams, of Walworth

County.

Vice Presidents-J. I. Case, Racine Co.; Levi B. Vilas, Dane Co.; Keyes A. Darling, Fond du Lac Co.

Secretary-J. W. Hoyt.

Treasurer-David Atwood, of Dane.

ADDITIONAL MEMBERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTE.

C. H. Williams, Sauk Co.; C. Loftus Martin, Rock Co.; J. H. Warren, Green Co.; J. O. Eaton, Columbia Co.; Eli Stilson, Winnebago Co.; G. H. Stewart, Dodge Co.; Edward D. Holton, Milwaukee Co.

According to the Constitution, the fol

day's train.

I have been informed that the Milwaukee and Prairie du Chien Railroad refused transportation for stock and articles going to the Fair; but of this you are probably better informed than I am.

Respectfully,

DAVID WILLIAMS.

Of course the railroad companies were legally as well as morally bound to return these

the Executive Committee for the coming year:

EX-PRESIDENTS, EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: Harvey Durkee, Kenosha; J. F. Willard, Chicago; B. R. Hinkley, Summit.

In justice to the retiring President, Col. B. R. Hinkley, whose earnest devotion to the interests of the Society has entitled him to the gratitude of all the people of the State, it should be said that but for a peremptory declaration that he could not possibly consent to serve the Society as President the coming year, he would have been unanimously re-elected. At the close of the meeting, highly complimentary resolutions. were passed, thanking him for the ability, zeal and fidelity with which he had labored for the Society's interests. They were warmly applauded, and unanimously adopted. The Colonel made an eloquent response, declaring his purpose to continue through life to labor with all his might for the industry of Wisconsin.

THE EVENING MEETINGS.

Owing to a misunderstanding as to the use of the Court Room, which it was supposed had been secured for the Society, but two of the three meetings proposed were held, to wit: the Convention of Fruit

Growers, and the Wool Growers' Convention. Both of these were largely attended, and the result cannot but be favorable. A report of the former will be found in the Horticultural Department of this No.;

the Wool Growers' Convention will doubtless be reported in our next. Our duties as Secretary of the Society so entirely occupied us that we were unable to attend either of the meetings.

Sixes, &c. It is only a little inferior to the genuine Cuba, and if scented, as is generally done, with the leaf of a wild shrub that the tobacco, the counterfeit, if such it is, is grows in abundance in the neighborhood of

almost complete; so that we Andine "fumadores" enjoy for a cent what in North America costs a dime.

This tobacco delights in a light, dry soil, about equally compounded of vegetable mold, clay and sand; and it is probable, would do well in the oak openings of Southern Wisconsin. At least, every zealous friend of the "weed" could grow for his own pipe, and a bowl to puff with his neighbor, on a long winter evening, if no more. It was tried last year in Kentucky, and with satisfactory results.

The cultivators in Columbia do not top it, as is the practice in Virginia, Missouri, and other tobacco states, but suffer it to run

to seed, picking off the single leaves as they are ripe. As it receives a shower nearly every night, in its native country, it will probably be the better of a slight evening sprinkle each day, elsewhere. Like the Cuba, it may degenerate after the first crop; but fresh seeds can be procured for a trifle. The soil in which it grows here is identical with that of many localities in the United States, and the temperature is about the same as summer heat there, but the atmosphere is a little damper; so it is by no means certain that it will not, for a considerable time, at least, maintain its original qualities.

I enclose a small quantity of the seeds, for trial. Out of abundant caution, it may not be amiss to start the plants early in the season, in the hot-house, or a warm room, of even temperature, and keep them there until all danger of chilly spring days be past. FUMADOR.

THE BEE-KEEPER.

The Best Hive ?-One Way to get at it.

MR. EDITOR:-I suppose that by the interchange of thought and the bringing out of new ideas we are to arrive at proper conclusions: and this is the principal feature of our department; but, if an occasional broadside is let off against patent hives, and a sharp rejoinder from some one interested in them is indulged in, it is taken in good part, and the general reader can get some valuable suggestions. Of course we are all interested in the best method of keeping bees to make them the most profitable; and as the hive has much to do with this, it must not be entirely left out, for I have no doubt that there may be really five or six good patent hives, while all the rest, perhaps, are worse than a common box to the bee-keeper; and

with a proper knowledge of the wants and habits of the bee, one may be successful with either of these. But some may present more and better points than the others; and if by comparing hives, and the mode of treatment, with the results, we can get at the correct principles in hives, and the care of bees in our climate, it is all we want; for we cannot expect to be perfect in either. We hope to bring out all these points for

that those who know the most will not keep silent any longer.

discussion at our next Convention, and trust

And now, one word to the readers of the FARMER: It is our own WISCONSIN FARMER, and we can make it just what we wish, if we wish to do right; but we cannot expect the proprietors to publish it at the very low price of one dollar, and give away hundreds of dollars' worth of premiums, every year,

if we withhold our support, or grudgingly pay up when called on, when we know that its cost to them is nearly double what it was two years ago. B. S. HOXIE.

COOKSVILLE, August 10, 1864.

That Honey.

MR. EDITOR: From one of my stocks of Italian bees I have taken, this season, twenty-six boxes of surplus honey, such as I sent you, or one hundred and thirty pounds. Although this is not a very good locality for bees, yet I should like to know if any stock of bees in this State has produced more honey, in boxes of five pounds each. J. W. SHARP.

Door CREEK, August 31, 1864.

THE HORTICULTURIST.

Mr. A. G. Hanford.

How little we thought, when, in the making up of our last number, we found it necessary to postpone for a month the publication of several articles written by the able and indefatigable Corresponding Secretary of the Horticultural Department, but forwarded a little too late for insertion then, that those were the last words he would ever pen for the advancement of his favorite profession. And how difficult, now that he has really passed to that bourne whence no traveller returns, will it be for thousands of our readers who have been accustomed to look to him for authority in the culture of fruit, plants and flowers, to credit the announcement that A. G. Hanford is dead!

So full of energy, that never for a moment abated its force, so ever aglow with a beautiful enthusiasm for his chosen work, so rich in hopefulness and an unfaltering determination to give added utility, grace and dignity to the profession he so signally adorned, and withal so eminently successful was he in his labors, that to us it scemed impossible, for a time, that he should thus prematurely have fallen. But, alas! Death is no respector of persons,

cutting down the useful and the noble as remorselessly as the base and useless man. Of this one, however, it could be most truthfully said, he was ripe for the harvest.

We have not now the data for a biographical sketch, and can only state, in general terms, that many years ago he came from New York, where he was engaged in mercantile business, and located at Waukesha, in this State, where he continued to reside until 1861, when, with a view to the better health of his amiable, accomplished and most excellent companion, he pur chased a large interest in the Columbus (Ohio) Nurseries, and removed to that place. For the larger portion of the time during which he lived in Wisconsin, his chief attention was given to the cultivation of fruits, to the introduction of approved varieties among the people of the Northwest, and to the dissemination of a knowl edge of the established principles of his profession. The readers of the FARMER need not be told that in this he was preeminently successful. No horticulturist of the West has ever been more successful in actual practice, none has established a better reputation for correctness of knowledge and integrity in all business transactions, and none has made his pen more useful in the diffusion of valuable information derived from laborious and carefully conducted experiments. In our estimation, he was the best living authority on all questions relating to the culture of fruits in the Northwestern States. It was because of this high estimate of his ability and integrity that we secured his valuable aid as Corresponding Editor of the Horticultural Department of this journal at the beginning of the year 1862, when the exclusive management of the FARMER first passed into our control. He had always been an occasional contributor, but since that date has furnished an extra amount of valuable matter for that important department.

He has also contributed quite regularly

Rogers' Hybrid Grapes.

These are said to be the result of a cross

iar to not less than a hundred thousand readers. His style was remarkable for its clearness and distinctness, and for the assurance which it naturally conveyed to the mind of the reader of the soundness of his judgment and the purity of his unselfish purpose.

native variety. All that have fruited under our observation are large and showy; in color embracing different shades of amber and purple. Most have thick skins, and a little toughness at the centre. Their flavor is sweet and good, possessing more or less of the peculiar aroma of the native fox grape.

The vines are strong growers, with large,

moral integrity, and a delightfully warm and genial social nature. None who knew him intimately could do otherwise than admire and love him.

In the relation of husband and father his life was singularly beautiful. No wife and children ever had profounder reason to mourn an untimely loss.

Immediately after forwarding the articles herewith published, he suffered an attack of bilious remitting fever, and after ten days of illness, on the 3d of September, with the light of heaven in his countenance, he fell asleep, to awake in the Garden of God.

May the Father of all mercies soothe the sorrows of his bereaved family, and by the gift of His infinite grace help us all to profit by so pure and worthy an example.

Deep Planting.

At a recent meeting of the Alton Horticultural Society, Dr. Hull, an experienced fruit-grower and large orchardist, stated that he "would plant vines and all fruits deep, to avoid the effects of drought and the too sudden effect of moisture after drought upon the fruit. The growth of tree and fruit, when planted shallow, is checked and incited with injurious rapidity." What say our Prof. Comstock "terra culture" friends to this doctrine?

ly hardy.

Mr. Rogers has not named these seedlings, but distinguishes them by numbers— forty-five, we believe, in all. The following are three of the best:

No. 4.-Color, dark purple; berries, very large; clusters, large, often shouldered; of a sweet, rich flavor; ripens earlier than the Isabella; very productive.

No. 15.-Color, light amber or red; very handsome and showy; berries, large; bunch, medium, shouldered; tender; rich, aromatic flavor; vine, vigorous and productive; ripens earlier than the Diana.

No. 19-Is the largest and earliest, and is esteemed by many as the best of the whole number originated by Mr. Rogers, combining the fine flavor of the Black Hamburg with the hardiness of the native; berries, very large: three fourths of an inch in diameter, by an inch long; of a blue-black color; bunch, large, and very handsome; ripens nearly or quite as early as the Concord. A. G. HANFORD.

COLUMBUS, OHIO.

Leave a Grove of Trees near your House.

others do not.