288 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Overholt of Mason was called upon for a paper on small fruits but 

 asked for an excuse because of lack of time in preparation. 



PARKS AND LAWNS. 



Mrs. A. Allen gave an essay on the keeping of parks and lawns, rehearsing 

 the important reasons for maintaining beautiful parks in cities and villages for 

 the pleasure and education of people who were not able to have broad lawns and 

 beautiful gardens of their own. In some detail she gave the most approved 

 methods of preserving lawns in their greatest beauty, by thorough preparation 

 of soil to begin with, and the addition of abundant fertilizers thereafter. Wm. 

 Appleton read a paper on 



HOME ADORNMENT, 



speaking particularly of the beautiful things in the way of plants, flowers, 

 trees, green turf, and well-made walks and drives that may be brought around 

 the home at trifling expense, the work of the members of the family. He 

 believed in all the members of a household working together to make home 

 beautiful, arguing that a moral influence went with the work that made better 

 people. 



Mrs. M. "W. Howard followed with an essay upon the 



INFLUENCE OF AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS, 



filled with bits of experience and observation from her own life. She spoke of 

 a letter written by Jonathan Shearer, of Plymouth, who told of planting a 

 young orchard to replace an older one, even although he was past three score 

 years of age. She spoke of the products of horticulture as adding to comfort 

 and health, and as particularly suited to cheer the sick. 



Secretary Garfield being called out again explained the method usually pur- 

 sued in organizing branch societies, after which, on motion of Prof. Beal, the 

 names of those present who were in favor of organizing as suggested were 

 taken, numbering about 30. 



ELECTION OF OFFICERS. 



The meeting proceeded to the election of officers, which resulted as follows : 

 President, Prof. W. J. Beal, Agricultural College; Vice President, Mrs. D. L. 

 Case, Lansing; Secretary, Ezra Jones, Lansing; Treasurer, W. H. Overholt, 

 Mason. 



These officers, by provision of the by-laws, constitute the executive board. 



On motion of Ezra Jones, the constitution presented by the State society 

 was adopted, and the society organized as the Ingham County Horticultural 

 Society. 



A vote of thanks was tendered Mr. Garfield for his attendance and assistance, 

 when, upon motion, the meeting adjourned to April 10 at 2 o'clock in the 

 same place. 



At a meeting of the executive board the following topics for discussion, and 

 persons to lead in them, were selected for the April meeting : 



Selection, time of planting, and care of ornamental trees, Prof. W. J. Beal. 



Fruit trees, time to plant, and best selection of varieties, Geo. W. Parks. 



List of suitable varieties of small fruits for culture in city gardens, W. H. 

 Overholt. 



Ornamental shrubs, Mrs D. L. Case. 



