THE ANNUAL MEETING. 



HELD IN THE CITY OF ANN ARBOR, DECEMBER 



6, 7, and 8, 1880. 



FULL TEXT OF LEADING PAPERS AND ABSTRACT OF DISCUSSIONS. 



Nearly a year in advance of the annual meeting of 1880 two invitations were 

 in — one from South Haven and a second from Ann Arbor. The executive 

 board took into consideration the fact that Washtenaw county had never been 

 favored with a meeting, and accepted the invitation of the Washtenaw County 

 Pomological Society. The Michigan Central Railroad granted reduced rates 

 to delegates, and as a result the attendance from abroad was larger than ever 

 before at an annual meeting of the society. There were nearly a hundred del- 

 egates from various parts of the State outside of Washtenaw county. Aside 

 from this, Ontario Fruit Growers' Association was represented by Rev. Charles 

 Arnold and William Saunders; Ohio Horticultural Society, by its honored 

 President, Dr. John A. Warder; Western New York Horticultural Society, by 

 J. S. Woodward and H. E. Hooker and Mr. Chase. 



The exhibit of fruit was very choice, much of it having been brought out by 

 the following announcement which had been published for some weeks : 



"It is very desirable that we have a beautiful exhibit of the best winter apples, 

 and the executive board offer the following prizes to members of the society: 



" Best 5 varieties winter apples for market, $5. 



u Best 5 varieties winter apples to eat, $5. 



" Best 5 varieties winter apples to cook, $5. 



" There must be exactly five specimens of each variety, and the awarding committee 

 will consider not only the value of the varieties for each particular purpose, but the 

 character, beauty, freedom from defects and geneal perfection of the specimens. En- 

 tries must be made by mail or at Ann Arbor the afternoon of December 6. We desire 

 a large exhibit of fruit, in variety, and, aside from the special exhibits named above, 

 it is hoped that fruit growers will bring in from their abundance, especially of varie- 

 ties regarding the names of which there may be some doubt." 



J. Austin Scott, one of the pioneers in horticultural society work, said he 

 never saw a more choice selection of winter apples than that gathered at Ann 

 Arbor. 



The arrangements for receiving and entertaining the delegates were most 

 complete. The circuit court room was used for the meeting, and was given up 

 for this purpose, although the court was in session. An ante-room was given 



