20 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



but meantime has been piitting money into his orchard and growing old. I 

 have sohl aj^ples at $2 per barrel this winter, and I get for my neighbors' 

 apples, which I ship, one dollar per barrel more than the market price for 

 select fruit. But it is not so when confronting the markets of the world. 

 When apples are dried, eight cents per pound means twenty-five cents per 

 bushel for the fresh fruit; but as prices go lower there ensues loss of the 

 fruit and finally loss of the work also. 



Adjournment was made until 1 o'clock P. M. 



Afternoon Session. 



The first topic of the afternoon programme being "An independent 

 exposition by this society," President Lyon said: 



"AVe have never had a strictly independent exhibition, having in such 

 work always been allied to some other society. There is not a large portion 

 of the public interested in horticulture, nor appreciative of its importance, 

 and hence attendance, if a fee were charged, would be somewhat problem- 

 atic. If such an exhibition were undertaken it would haS'e to be free, the 

 society standing the expense. It has been thought that an exhibition 

 could be made by contrilration of the exhibitors. Many exhibitors at agri- 

 cultural fairs are glad to show for sake of the benefits from advertising, 

 but there can be no such motive in a horticultural show. Exhibitors must 

 secure from premiums enough at least for expenses. All the fairs have to 

 resort to special attractions to secure attendance, but this also is out of 

 place with us and but adds to the difficulties. As to the season, no choice 

 of time could include all varieties, but September is on the whole the best 

 time. Most horticulturists are specialists and few would attend whose 

 specialty was not included. In any event, a fund sufficient to meet expenses 

 must first be secured. 



Prof. Beal agreed with Mr. Lyon that it is not practicable to make 

 such an exhibition with profit. » 



Mr. Pearsall said they once got up, in Grand Rapids, an exhibit of 

 fruit and flowers, but at no time did they have as many present as were at 

 that moment in this meeting. Such things can be successful only when all 

 interests are united and trying to get a crowd. But the work of this 

 society will never cease so long as the Annual Report and the Fruit 

 Catalogue are issued, although many hesitate to pay fifty cents for both, 

 when either is worth five dollars to any one. 



C. J. Monroe of South Haven: I do not see how such an exhibition 

 could be made a financial success, though there is nothing that would be 

 of more value to the fruitgrowers. I regret our State Agricultural society 

 has taken its present position, and think the best plan would be to imite 

 with some other society. 



G. AY. Parks of Lansing proposed that the Ingham county agricultural 

 society invite this society to exhibit with the Central Michigan fair. 



A. S. Partridge of Flushing thought that as the society's work is 

 distinct, it should be kept separate in all ways from agricultural societies; 

 and that if an independant exhibition could not be made to pay in Lansing, 

 it could in Genesee county. 



Mr. Ramsdell: When we joined the State Agricultural society ,^_I 



