in foreign lands. The Pewaukee apple is the most conspicuous of these seedlings.

Mr. Peffer did not have the privilege of acquiring, in his youth, what is called a liberal education, but he made the most of the advantages he had. He literally dug out his education, and it was by no means a poor one. His mind was naturally gifted and his abilities were of the solid, substantial kind. All scientific questions interested him, and he was not slow in , coming to conclusions in such matters, that were usually quite correct, and sometimes in advance of the more learned men of science. He was perhaps the first in discovering the fact of the propagation of pear and apple blight through their blos

soms.

It was not an easy matter to deceive him. A humbug was sure to receive a severe overhauling at his hands, and he was not backward about expressing his thoughts of it. He knew a good fruit when he saw it, and was always ready to give every such thing due praise. There were few men in America who had such keen pomological discrimination, as all pomologists know who came in contact with him.

At the meetings of a horticultural nature in his own state and those of a national character, he was nearly always found. He was rather retiring, and decidedly unobtrusive, but he was free to take part in discussions, when occasion required, and gave what he could from his store of information. His words were always fraught with plain, common sense, backed by experience. His tall form was easily observed in any company, and his peculiar German accent when speaking, was a pleasant feature, long to be remembered by his many personal friends. He leaves behind a memory in the horticultural world that will be a continual inspiration to higher attainments in this noble calling.

My acquaintance with him began at the New Orleans exposition, where we were engaged in exhibiting the fruits of our respective states. The laurels which were won by Wisconsin at that world-famed pomological contest should be largely credited to his efforts in exhibiting fruits of his own growing. The whole of the winter 1884--5 was spent by us in daily examination of the fruit exhibits from all parts of this country

and from many foreign nations. Many and long were the conferences we had over those interesting specimens. He was not long in acquiring a concise knowledge of the peculiarities of each variety as grown under different conditions of soil and climate. While he was a standard authority on the fruits of the far north, he soon became well informed as to the relative value of varieties of the orange, lemon and other southern fruits.

It was my privilege to visit at his home near Pewaukee in 1886, and I there saw the trees and vines from which he repeatedly gathered the fruit that did so much credit to his state. The orchards and ornamental trees about his home are living monuments to his skill and labor.

Mr. Peffer was one of the members of the American Horticultural Society, who composed the party that crossed the continent in January, 1888, to attend two meetings of that body in California-one at San Jose in the famous Santa Clara val

ley, and the other at Riverside among the orange groves. He and I occupied the same section of the Pullman car during the entire trip there and back, and a more jolly traveling companion would be hard to find. He was full of droll stories, which, being told in his quaint German style, were peculiarly amusing. He thoroughly enjoyed the scenery, noted the changes of climate, studied the various systems of culture, and critically scanned all that came within the vision of the most observing.

He spent some weeks visiting me at Washington, D. C., in June, 1892, and many and long were the consultations we had as to the various phases of horticulture, and the best plans for conducting the division of Pomology in the United States department of Agriculture, of which I was then the chief. In fact, it was he, who, when at New Orleans in 1885, made a suggestion which led me to conceive of the establishment of that branch of the government service. His words were always fraught with plain, common sense. We walked and loitered together in the parks of that beautiful city, and it was a pleasure to witness his enjoyment of every tree, shrub and flower.

The last time we met, was in the great white city by the lake, the world's fair at Chicago, in June, 1893. There, we

again together studied the fruits of every clime with old-time interest. He was feeble in body, but as young as ever in spirit. When we meet again, I trust it will be in the gardens of the Celestial City.

Parksley, Va., Jan. 3, 1895.

H. E. Van Deman.

O. C. COOK,

By Rev. Guido Borshard, Oconto.

Osmer Clark Cook was born at Batavia, New York, August 9th, 1827. He was the youngest of four sons. His youth was spent in his native state, he having taught school there in 1846 and '47, when he started for California, by the Atlantic ocean, gulf of Mexico and isthmus of Panama. On his arrival at the isthmus he was kept from going further owing to severe illness. On his recovery, he was employed by the company then constructing the Panama railway, and, later. Some time was occupied by his travels about those parts and a short residence on the island of Cuba. In 1849 he was married to Lucretia Cole and soon after his marriage removed with his young wife to the state of Michigan. Here their twin sons, Wallace and Willard, who today are in the lumber business in Oconto, as the firm of W. P. Cook & Bro., were born. When these sons were three years of age, the family moved to Columbus, Wisconsin, where they remained a number of years. During their residence in that city their sons, Charles and George, were born. In the year 1865, the family left Columbus and moved into Oconto county. Two more children, Sheldon and Alice, were born to them here. In 1878 his wife died, and in the same year, the 11th of August, his son, Charles, was drowned.

In 1880, Mr Cook was married a second time to Dorcas F. Churchill, who with the five children of his first wife, survives him. On March 15th, 1894, Mr. Cook was thrown from his buggy while driving into Oconto, his horse having been

frightened by a locomotive at the Northwestern railway crossing. From injuries received by this accident, he died four weeks later, April 12th. His funeral was held on April 14th, from the Presbyterian church, Oconto, and was attended by one of the largest gatherings of people ever seen in Oconto.

B. S. Hoxie-I move that Mrs. Campbell be instructed to prepare a copy of the memorial to Geo. P. Peffer, and send it to his family. Carried.

Mrs. Campbell moved that all unfinished business be referred to the executive committee. Carried.

Adjourned sine die.