THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 67 



northern portions, together with the entire upper peninsula, are a sealed 

 book, so far as anything beyond a very general knowledge of their horti- 

 cultural or pomological capacities are concerned. An amount of means 

 c^uite beyond that subject to the control of the society is clearly necessary 

 to any effective missionary efforts for the development of horticulture 

 in the regions in question; and legislative assistance only would seem to 

 warrant an effort by the society in this direction. Such being the condi- 

 tion of affairs, we can only renew the suggestions of last year, that, through 

 a committee, or otherwise, the addresses of suitable persons in the at 

 present unoccupied counties of the state, be obtained, and that through 

 such persons copies of our annual reports be distributed to persons evinc- 

 ing an interest in horticultiiral pursuits, so long as a surplus of such vol- 

 umes shall remain in our hands. 



" We further suggest that these volumes be supplied to county and other 

 local agricultural societies, on the same terms as to horticultural organiza- 

 tions, to be by them offered as premiums upon horticultural exhibits at 

 their annual fairs. 



THE ANNUAL FAIR. 



" Within the past year an International Exposition association has been 

 organized at Detroit, with abundant capital, grounds purchased aud per- 

 manent buildings constructed, in which, in September last, a highly suc- 

 cessful fair was held. Upon invitation, the executive board of this society 

 assumed the management of the horticultural portion of the exhibit, 

 including fruits, flowers, plants, and vegetables. The working up, bringing 

 together, and conducting of this department was mainly done l)y Secretary 

 Keid, to whom great credit is due for its effective management. The work 

 of the society has been warmly complimented by the management of the 

 fair. Particulars need not here be specified, since these will doubtless 

 appear in the secretary's annual report. 



"This arrangement expired with the close of the September exhibit, 

 hence any subsequent co-operation must depend upon a future arrange- 

 ment (a letter requesting i)ropositions to this end having already been 

 received by Secretary Eeid), which, we suggest, may very properly be left 

 to the discretion of the executive board. This would seem to be the more 

 proper, for the reason that the date of the fair for 1890 has already been 

 fixed for August 26 to September 5 — a period quite too early for a cred- 

 itable exhibit of the long-keeping fruits of our state, and hence gravely 

 complicating the question of our ability to make an effective horticultural 

 display, although a slight compensation may be found in the more favor- 

 able season for the displays in other departments. 



NEED OF A LATER EXHIBIT OF WINTER FRUITS. 



" The occurrence of this complication leads naturally to a consideration of 

 the fact that the dates of the annual state fairs ( at which our exhibits of 

 long-keeping fruits have invariably been made in the past), have proved 

 quite too early for the display of these in their highest perfection, and this 

 fact leads us to suggest the query whether it may not be possible to devise 

 a plan for a display of these separately, say at our annual meeting, at 

 which time winter and late autumn fruits may be shown in their most 

 attractive condition, at a time when the mass of people are most at liberty, 



