Meeting for Discussion Held at the State Fair. 71 



The secretary stated that propositions had been made by one or 

 two societies to hold such conventions and exhibitions in the fall, 

 in connection with their county fairs, but it seemed to him >his 

 would not be advisable, for various reasons. The most important 

 part of these exhibitions, and that from which, the greatest benefit 

 is derived, is the meeting for the reading of papers, and discus- 

 sions held in connection \uth them, and that in this, the busy sea- 

 son of the year, and the excitement attendant upon our couoty 

 fairs, but little interest would be felt in this part of the work ; 

 but few would be present, and the sessions would be very brief 

 and unsatisfactory. Again, if this plan were adopted, all the 

 county fairs would be willing and anxious to receive the aid 

 offered, and the money would go in with the receipts of the fairs, 

 adding but little, if anything, to the exhibition, and be without 

 any benefit, so far as the object for which it was appropriated is 

 concerned. 



Mr. Philips was in favor of fixing the time for holding these 

 meetings to December and January. 



After a brief discussion, the following resolution was introduced 

 by Mr. Plumb : 



Resolved, That the remainder of the appropriation set apart by the Society 

 for the advancement of the interests of horticulture in the state may be ex- 

 pended during the portion of the society year after the first of December, in 

 the manner originally proposed, provided such exhibitions shall be strictly in 

 the interests of horticulture and for the encouragement of local horticultural 

 societies alone. 



Carried. 



The same provisions were made for the payment of the ex- 

 penses of those who furnished papers and addresses for the meet- 

 ings thus held. 



Blight and Mildew. — Mr. Peffer, in response to a call for 

 remarks on the peculiarities of the season, stated that there had 

 been more blight and mildew in his section than usual. This 

 was the leaf blight, not what is commonly called fire blight. The 

 cause was atmospheric; heat and sudden changes. The season had 

 been warm and moist ; growth was rapid. In the hot weather 

 and with a hot wind, the tips of the leaves curled up, and the 



