SUMMER MEETING, 1880. 7? 



Prof. J. C. Holmes gave some illustrations of progress made in the adorn- 

 ment of farms and homes, and consequent development of truer, nobler views 

 of life and its purposes. 



Mr. J. D. Adams, of Climax, gave a chapter from his own experience in 

 hewing out a home as a pioneer, and of the satisfaction which he enjoyed now 

 in gathering about his home in the form of buildings, trees, etc., that which 

 made him proud of his farm home. 



Adjourned until Friday morning. 



Friday Morning Session. 



RESOLUTIONS OF SYMPATHY. 



The committee to whom was referred the matter of preparing proper resolu- 

 tions to be sent to Mr. J. P. Thompson, reported the following, which were 

 unanimously adopted by a rising vote : 



Whereas, This society lias heard with deep regret that Mr. J. P. Thompson, of 

 Detroit, is suffering from a severe illness, preventing his attendance on this meet- 

 ing and society in which he has taken so warm an interest and has been so valuable a 

 member; therefore, 



Besolved, That we tender and express our sincere sympathy with Mr. Thompson in 

 his severe illness, and trust that he may recover at an early day and resume his accus- 

 tomed place in the society; and, furthermore, 



Besolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to Mr. Thompson. 



The Committee on Exhibit, through Will W. Tracy, Chairman, made the 

 following report: 



MR. TRACY ON THE STRAWBERRY EXHIBIT. 



Ladies and Gentlemen of the Michigan Pomological Society : — The 

 committee on fruits exhibited would preface their report by a statement of 

 some of the conditions which make this report less valuable than would be 

 expected. 



First, the season was so much earlier than usual that in many sections, 

 including most of those where the strawberry is largely-grown for market, the 

 crop was fairly passed, and it was impossible to get fine samples of many varie- 

 ties. Again, in addition to the above, there had been so much rain for a few 

 days preceding the meeting that many of the berries were of very uneven 

 quality, there frequently being more difference between individual berries on 

 the same plate than between those of distinct varieties. So your committee 

 were unable to make a discriminating report on this feature of the exhibition. 



We think that most people would award the palm for beauty to the Sharp- 

 less, of which there were several fine plates, one of particularly large and fine 

 berries, being from Mr. J. Brown, of Battle Creek. Yet we fear that when 

 shown in the market by the side of the much abused Wilson its color would be 

 against it. Again, the variety as shown here certainly lacks shipping quali- 

 ties, not only bruising easily but rapidly spoiling whenever the skin or pulp is 

 broken. Ihe Marvin seems to be a much more even berry, and it seemed to 

 the committee that their average weight would be nearly if not quite equal to 

 the Sharpless. They were of a uniform color, and although picked 48 hours 

 before the Sharpless, after both had been on the table 12 hours, presented quite 

 as fresh an appearance. The Shirts seems able to stand up under any amount 

 of hard usage. The samples shown were picked Monday morning after a hard 



