THE SUMMER MEETING. 



HELD IN THE CITY OF BATTLE CREEK JUNE 16, 17 AND 18. RECORD 

 OF DISCUSSIONS AND FULL TEXT OF LEADING PAPERS. 



Early in the year a letter of invitation numerously signed, came before the 

 Executive Committee of the State Pomological Society from the people of 

 Battle Creek, cordially inviting the Society to hold its Strawberry Meeting in 

 their city. The invitation was accepted, and the programme announced for 

 the 16th, l?th and 18th of June, to open with an evening session on the first 

 day. 



During the afternoon previous to the opening of the meeting, quite a large 

 number of fruit growers gathered in and about Stewart's Hall, and discussed 

 informally the horticultural promises for the year, and all agreed that never in 

 the history of the State had there been an indication of a greater abundance 

 of fruit of all kinds. 



Wednesdai/ Evening Session. 



At the proper hour President Lyon took the chair and called the convention 

 to order. Eev. D. E. Shoope, of Hastings, Barry county, conducted appro- 

 priate devotional exercises, and a choir from Pennfield Grange, led by Mr. 

 Poole, furnished an abundance of excellent music to enliven the exercises of 

 the evening. 



Secretary Garfield read a communication from J. S Comings, of St. Joseph, 

 as follows : 



Oka's W. Garfield, Secretary, etc.: 



My Dear Sir:— Please present the following receipt for saving fruit from curcu- 

 lio, at your June meeting: 



Two pounds of whale oil soap boiled in water enough to fully dissolve it; add 

 while hot, 1 pound of tar, stirring it in ; mix with 15 gallons water, and with syringe 

 shower it over the trees thoroughly. Repeat after every rain storm. 



This will save plums or peaches from the curculio. It will also drive away the 

 cabbage worm and the squash bug. It is well worth trying by the plum growers of 

 Michigan. 



I wish you would also present the following question for consideration: 



In growing grapes upon wire trellises, why not let the permanent arms be trained 

 upon the upper wire, letting the fruit and new growth hang down, and not tie it? 



This will save five to eight dollars per acre for tying, as usually done, by having 

 the arms upon the lower wires, and tying the new growth to the upper wires. 



Yours, truly, 



J. S. COMINGS 



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