28 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



hearing no objection to the report, it was declared adopted, thus electing 

 the officers for the ensuing year with no semblance of formality. Thi& 

 was delightful, for evidently the society has a good set of officials and 

 there is no sense in wasting time in getting any other fellows in. The 

 object of the meeting is to get out important information, not to log- 

 roll for positions of honor. 



Papers were uniformly short, and in discussing them, while a good deal 

 of freedom was allowed, the society would not tolerate long a man who 

 inaudibly mumbled his words, or another who had not learned the power 

 of condensation. 



It was expected that every man present would become a m amber, and 

 invitations to join the society were frequent and urgent, but given with 

 the utmost good nature and often with hilarity. 



The president's address was replete with pleasant historical information 

 and excellent suggestions connected with the trend of horticulture, and 

 the opportunities that fruitgrowers must grasp or become side-tracked. 



The papers presented to the meeting were usually short, meaty, and 

 attractively put together. The discussions were always able and spicy. 

 No time was wasted in rambling to no purpose, and the audience would 

 not be patient when a man wandered from the subject or spoke unintelli- 

 gibly. The conduct of the convention was a refutation of the slur often 

 thrown out, that farmers are not business men. 



I was especially delighted with Mr. Geo. W. Campbell's essay on 

 "Grapes, new and old." He is a man greatly respected, and western New 

 York makes no mistake in thus drawing upon Ohio for assistance. 



J. H. Hale of Connecticut is always entertaining, and was especially 

 so in his talk before this convention. He always mixes some good juice 

 with his fruit talks that makes them exceedingly palatable. 



Our own Michigan boy, Prof. L. H. Bailey, finds in New York a 

 delightful field for his ready suggestions and ability to work. The horti- 

 culturists there "swear by him," as if he were grown on their own soil. 

 Michigan is honored by his success, and New York honored herself in 

 recognizing his great ability as a horticulturist. He spoke upon the 

 question, "Are novelties worth their cost?" and commanded the most 

 perfect attention. He brought over with him from Cornell university 

 fifty of his students, who were received with cheers by the convention and 

 given every opportunity to absorb valuable hints from the proceedings. 

 Cornell furnished several speakers, as did the State experiment station at 

 Geneva. 



One of the interesting features of the convention was a list of questions, 

 over forty, upon practical horticulture, which had, previous to the meet- 

 ing, been sent in for discussion. These were published in the programme 

 and sandwiched into the proceedings in a very interesting way, giving 

 brightness to the exercises and bringing out facts wanted by somebody. 



The truth is, when a man prepares a paper he is at sea as to just what 

 his audience wishes evolved; but, place him on the platform and allow an 

 audience to fire questions at him, and if he is well equipped the people 

 draw out the information they most desire. 



The display of fruit was large, and so placed as to be of use to the meet- 

 ing. An exhibit of forced vegetables from the state experiment station 

 was very attractive and interesting. 



