92 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The session of Friday evening was made more enjoyable by orchestral 

 music by a number of Lowell young men under direction of Mr. J. H. 

 KiCKEET, and a song, "In Old Madrid," by Miss Hattie Wilson. Both 

 performances were very much above the average work of the amateur 

 musician, and elicited the warmest commendation of the audience. 



Messrs. E. Moreill, C. W. Gaefield, and C. J. Moneoe were appointed 

 a committee to attend to passage of such legislation as may be proposed 

 in the interests of horticulture by the legislature of 1895. 



The secretary was instructed to send a copy of the resolutions adopted 

 by the society, to £ach member of congress from Michigan. 



At the close of the meeting a vote of thanks was given the people of 

 Lowell for their hospitality; Mr. Augustine invited attendance upon the 

 next annual meeting of the Illinois State society at Kankakee; Mr. Wiley 

 invited attendance upon the annual meeting of the West Michigan society 

 in Grand Eapids, the last Tuesday in February, and the committee report- 

 ed that they found the affairs of the secretary and treasurer in proper 

 order. 



PAPEES A]NP DISOUSSIOI^S. 



ORCHARD IRRIGATION. 



BY MR. M. B. WILLIAMS OF KALAMAZOO. 



It has been said of some one that " his future is behind him." The 

 converse of this would be nearer the truth concerning my experience in 

 irrigation; and, instead of my future being in the past, it might be more 

 properly said that my past experience is yet to come, and it would seem 

 less presumptuous for such a person to remain silent or speak only to ask 

 for information, were it not for the fact that most Michigan horticulturists 

 probably feel much the same, owing to our common lack of practical 

 knowledge in this matter. 



But there is one thing about it which some of us know, and we know it 

 thoroughly, viz. : that in seasons like the past we need some way of sup- 

 plying more water to our orchards, and these dry periods that have come 

 at some time during almost every season for nearly or quite a decade of 

 years past, have caused an interest and inquiry concerning practical meth- 

 ods of irrigation to extend far outside the limits of what is sometimes 

 spoken of as arid America. But the inhabitants of this district, having 



