Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-08-25

DTODnGSieOs TIC AdCiOtY HAS diiCANly
been built and land leased of the
farmers at four dollars per acre for the
growing of corn aud peas.
In the winter of 1895 the Wisconsin,
State Horticultural Society decided to
establish an experimental orchard in
! the northern part of the state. Prof
E. S. Golf, l.. q. kellogg and A. K
Phillips were appointed to select site
for this orchard. In 1896 this COM
mittee made a report selecting the
present site in Marathon County. Mr.
Phillips was appointed To lay out the
orchard and select trees for planting.
The experiments planned were of a
nature to aid the small farmer in
Northern Wisconsin who is endeavor-
ing to make a home on the former
timber lands of the state. This orchard
is located on the Single farm now
owned by Senator A. l.. Kreutzer and
situated two miles northwest of Wan
sau. Many experiments are carried on
here by Mr.. Phillips in the way of
planting trees of different varieties
and ages. Some of these trees are now
bearing fruit and nearly all appear to
be in a thriving condition. Many rare
varieties are planted here and the
whole ten acres il of deep inteIe est to
the horticulturist, and the fruit grower.
Some of the experiments are run in
series and sets to determine the differ
ence in time required by rootgrafts,
one year old trees, and trees two or
more years of age before fruit is borne
Other experiments are made TO deter
mine the comparative hardness of
different varieties and their yields Of
fruit.
The success of different methods Of
grating and pruning is tested. Many
valuable gifts have been receiy ed 10y
the managers of this orchard and "A
complete set of records and charts are
kept for the instruction OF those in
terested.
The County Agricultural Society
was organized by August Kickbusch
and b. Ct. Plumer in 1867. 1t has held
fairs in the county ever since. Mr..
Wilson was secretary Of the associa-
ton for fourteen years until he was
made a member of the state board of
agriculture. Messrs. Thayer and Trevitt
have also held the same position. The
present fair grounds, one of the most
beautiful in the state, is located in
Wausau, and includes some eighty
acres of land which have all the APP
pearance of natural park.
The present secretary of the Agri-
cultural Association is l.. x. Wright.
Mr.. Wright is a wide awake, young
man and to his energy and industry
much of the credit for the excellent
showing made in the fair at home and
the county's exhibit at the State Fair
is due. Marathon County has won
honors for three consecutive years at
the state fair She is to make all ex-
hibit there again the coming year.
The fair grounds contain number
of buildings for different purposes. At
the west side is the house of the keeper
Of the grounds who receives his house
rent aud four hundred aud fifty dollars
per year as his salary. Here are also
the barns fitted with box stalls for the
trottiDg horses that compete at the
fair. On the south side Is the race
track, one half mile long with "a
one hundred foot grand stand which
is TO he extended this seaso making,
when complete grand stand Que
hundred aud eighty feet long Near
The center of the grounds is the agri-
cultural hall for the exhibition Of farm,
garden and orchard products Ssuth
Of this hall are five of the finest cattle
5arns in the state, being tnirty-Lwo
feet wide by one hundred feet long
Sheep pens ana hog pens are located
east of the cattle barns aud cattle
judging ring and stand are la clos,
proximity. A new hGrse barn ana
poultry house are to he built this sea
sou. The exhibits Of pure bred stuck
aud farm products made on the-e
grounds during the county fair are
surprise to visitors from the southern
and older counties OF the state. During |
the last few years this organization |
has done much for the promotion oil
improvement n the live stock industry |
of the county by offering liberal pre- |
miunIs for excellence in this line. Ii |
has also done much along the lines OF |
orchard, garden and field crop products.
Forage crops are receiving attention |
this year. The present board OF the |
County Fair managers are:-Presidents |
3. NJ. Quaw; secretary, l.. X. Wright;
& s. Curtis, Pat German, Geo. Rick, |
Jacob Simmer aud q d. Jones.
II has been the aim ia the preceding |
pages to show the beginnings that have |
been made in the agricultural indus |
tries in Marathon county within the
past fifty years. II consideration OF