SUMMER MEETING, 1882. 45 



The first topic for the afternoon was now taken up : 



WHAT SOCIETIES DO FOR HORTICULTURE. 



Mr. "Wni. A. Bro\yn of Steveusville, Berrien county, opened the way for dis- 

 cussion with the following paper: 



The best results obtained in horticulture come from the persistent efforts 

 of individuals who love to see a plant thrive or a tree grow. Uorticulture is 

 preeminently progressive, and the great improvements which have been accom- 

 plislied in propagating and disseminating new and choice varieties of fruits 

 and vegetables, the invention of new appliances and implements for the 

 destruction of insect enemies, and improved modes of culture, are the work of 

 men who have given their hearts, heads, and hands to developing what is best 

 and most beautiful in nature. 



The man who labors through long years to produce and perfect a new plant, 

 fruit, or flower cannot be actuated by selfish motives. His work must have 

 God's sunlight, and is open to the inspection of all. He is far removed from 

 the professional inventor who complicates labor-saving machinery, having in 

 view a patent which may insure him millions. Perchance he was educated to 

 grace one of the professions, but he has no aflinity with trade, medicine, or 

 law. He works hand in hand with nature, and worships God as revealed in 

 bud and bloom, and in the full fruition of his handiwork. 



The ideal horticulturist is communicative; he loves to impart and receive 

 instruction and cooperate with workers in the same cause, hence the early 

 formation of the state and national horticultural societies of the country, some 

 of which have been in existence more than a generation, and have made 

 records which are invaluable in showing us what societies may do for horticult- 

 ure. In the New England States every township sends one or more represen- 

 tative to the Legislature, agriculture and horticulture being fully represented. 

 These industries have been encouraged and fostered by liberal legislative 

 enactments. The great prairie States of the northwest have endowed their 

 industrial societies with a liberal hand. Horticultural societies have been 

 organized and have worked with commendable zeal ; but repeated disasters 

 have cooled their ardor, and as the true pomologist will not labor when he 

 cannot hope for success, many have returned to the lake States. But the hor- 

 ticultural societies of the trans-Mississippi States will never say ''die." If 

 they cannot grow the fine fruits they can grow bread and meat for the world. 

 The more hardy fruits will be utilized, and the young emigrants of to-day will 

 live to see pomological products guarded and protected from the prairie winds 

 by a cordon of native forests. 



In considering what societies are doing for horticulture, we will allude briefly 

 to what nature has done to render our beautiful peninsula State the chosen 

 home of the enthusiastic horticulturist and the commercial fruit grower. 

 Protected from cold northerly winds by the largest bodies of fresh water in 

 the world, with a lake shore belt hundreds of miles in extent, with inland ele- 

 vations which feel the softening influences of the lakes from afar, with a warm, 

 prolific virgin soil, and being located midway on the great natural highway 

 which connects the varied industries of the country, we can trace the design 

 of the great and beneficent creator and adjuster of the universe in placing a 

 fruit garden in the midst of the continent which will insure for all time a 

 supply of God's excellent gifts to man. 



It is nearly thirty years since the adaptability of the Michigan lake shore 



