40 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the foliage when the latter is moist, has been effective in some cases. There 

 certainly is danger to bees from London purple or other arsenical spray. 



Mr. Glidden: Will rain wash London purple out of the calyx? It does 

 get away, despite the theory that one lodgment of it there is sufficient, and 

 it goes very quickly. 



Prof. Beal: The rain will work into the calyx and wash the poison out. 



Prof. Cook: Growth of the apple, and the wind as well, will get it out. 



Pres. Lyon: Mr. Wier's theory was that there are certain sorts of plum 

 upon which the curculio work but the larvae do not mature. I disbelieved 

 this but found it true of P. Americana. Mr. Wier proposes the planting 

 of this species, and thereby the elimination of curciilio. 



Profs. Beal and Cook said they had seen wild plums (P. Americana) 

 quite ruined by curculio. 



Prof. Cook : There is no probability of our being able to kill the curculio 

 larva, as it hatches well down in the young fruits, quite out of reach. Nor 

 is there any chance to reach it in the ground, as it is not then eating and 

 we would be unable to get poison to it if it were. 



SEVERAL RESOLUTIONS. 



Mr. Reid, with brief introductory remarks commending President Willits 

 and his work at the college, offered the following resolution, which was 

 adopted without dissent: 



Resolved, That the Michigan State Horticultural society congratulate the horticul- 

 turists of the United States upon the selection of the Hon. Edwin Willits as assistant 

 secretary of agriculture, and commend Prest. Harrison for his choice; and that we have 

 the highest hopes of increased efficiency in practical work and results, of the agricultural 

 department, through Mr. Willits' labors, which we know will be directed with skill and 

 prosecuted witJi energy. 



The committee on resolutions reported as follows, the last recommenda- 

 tion being discussed by several members and very warmly commended. It 

 is aimed at a bill introduced by Eepresentative Cole, repealing the act for 

 collection of agricultural statistics: 



Resolved, That the members of the society, return their sincere and hearty thanks to 

 the local committee and the people of Lansing for their active and cordial efforts to 

 make the meetings a success ; to Professors Taft and Pattengill for their quaint histori- 

 cal sketches of Pomona and some of her principal fruits, and especially to the young 

 ladies who rendered their sketches in such a fluent and entertaining manner ; to the 

 choir for its pleasant music ; to the president, professors, and others connected with the 

 Agricultural college, for their invitation to visit the college, and for their courteous 

 attention in showing its various and interesting class exercises and departments ; to the 

 state board of agriculture, for the many evidences of their efforts to promote the horti- 

 cultural nite rests of our state; to those having the matter in charge, for their generous 

 hospitality in furnishing us such a sumptuous dmner ; to President Willits and Professor 

 Cook for their interesting, useful, and instructive lectures ; and, finally, while regretting 

 the loss to the college, we are thankful that President Willits goes from the great fruit 

 state of Michigan to a position at Washington, where the horticultural interest, not only 

 of our own state but of the nation, will receive a new impetus, and, under his enthusi- 

 astic, pushing ways, will get more of its deserved attention. 



The following resolution was handed the committee : 



Resolved, By the members of the society, that instead of repealing the law' with refer- 

 ence to collecting the agricultural statistics of Michigan, we favor doing all we can to 

 secure more complete reports, including our principal fruits, even at greater expense. 

 In our opinion it is. too soon to abandon any enterprise of this sort until it has had long 

 and thorough trial, and has been found impracticable and viseless. 



