WINTER MEETING, 1882. 21 



should teach older people how to become expert in any department of horti- 

 culture. My former reports are well filled with my notions of teacliiiig horti- 

 culture. It cannot be done merely by a course of lectures. As well might 

 you teach a man how to become a blacksmith or a shoemaker without taking 

 the tools in hand. The manipulation of tools — doing the thing itself — must 

 be insisted on. 



^ly plan with students of the Agricultural College is to take them out in 

 groups of six or eight, with tools in hand. I show them, and watch while they 

 work. A record of the success of each is kept in the same manner as we keep 

 a record for class-room work. This out-door teaching is the hardest kind of 

 teaching. It is hard to talk to a company in the open air and keep their 

 attention. Of course I teach students more about horticulture than merely 

 the art of doing some things well. 



Following Prof. Beal's paper the Secretary called attention to the work of 

 the Society, the character of its reports and the standing it had acquired 

 through the efforts of a few individuals, and asked that the people of Lenawee 

 cooperate with the Society, and share in its burdens and success. 



Mr. Woodward, of Lockport, gave a glowing account of the work of the 

 Society as viewed by an outsider, saying there should be ten thousand mem- 

 bers in Michigan who would gladly pay the dollar membership in order to 

 maintain the character of the work done by a few self-sacrificing horticulturists. 



Adjourned until morning. 



Wednesday Morning Session. 



At half-past nine o'clock the institute was called to order by the President, 

 and after a word of prayer by Rev. Mr. Patterson, Mr. E. D. Peirson read the 

 following paper upon 



THE ORCHARD AS AN ADJUNCT OP THE FARM. 



We have met here to receive and impart all the information we can iu 

 regard to a class of vegetable productions, that vary in size and use, from the 

 little violet to the largest apple tree. All these as to use are in striking 

 contrast to another class of vegetable growth, noted for its narcotic and 

 bewitching qualities upon our race. Wherever the race of man is found, "on 

 heathen or on christian ground," we find a portion of them who have stopped 

 to dally with this latter class; who have become infatuated with its charms, 

 and generally, ere they ^end their lives, they are bound slaves to its use. 

 This class of plants have been aptly compared to the sirens of that lovely isle 

 in ancient Greece, whose smiles allured but to deceive, and whose closer 

 acquaintance and fondest dalliance was at the expense of health, and even the 

 risk of life, to all who suffered themselves to be drawn within their charmed 

 circle. We have not met here to discuss the merits or demerits of this class 

 of vegetable growth, but we have gathered together from many parts of our 

 beautiful and productive State to talk of the merits and beauty, and the best 

 manner of producing the class of growth first mentioned ; thatclass, of which 

 might well be said, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." • Each of all this 

 class in its way is beautiful; it leaves no sting. Each in its way contributes 

 to the health, comfort and happiness of man, from the smallest flower 



