164 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



higher type than evergreens, wliether we consider them hotanically or artistic- 

 ally. They vary much more in appearance with the changes of the seasons. 



I must say a few words about the construction of leaves in connection with 

 these drawings. 



As will be seen in running over the illustrations of our trees, but few of 

 them have showy flowers. The tulip tree, perhaps, has the largest flowers of 

 any tree native to Michigan, but even here the flowers often pass unnoticed. 

 In this lack of floral display there is a sort of compensation. The tree has 

 one kind of glory in its size and peculiar form. 



Next to a good lawn of fine, well kept grass, trees are the greatest ornament 

 to a place. Unquestionably a fine tree is one of the most beautiful objects in 

 nature. 



After the lecture closed, Prof. Beal was besieged with questions, but the 

 hour being late, discussion was cut off and the convention adjourned until 

 Wednesday morning at nine o'clock. 



Wednesday MorniJig Session. 



There never has been so strong an inducement for opening the morning 

 sessions of our society promptly as at this Flint meeting. The high school, 

 under direction of the principal. Prof. Gass, opened the meeting each morning 

 with music,, and the time for the school to open was at: nine o'clock. So just 

 at nine o'clock Wednesday morning, Vice President Abbott, of Lapeer, called 

 to order, and after listening to appropriate music by the school, and joining 

 with Rev. W. H. Shier in a few words of prayer, the regular programme of 

 the day was taken up. 



REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 



Prof. Beal, chairman of the committee on plants, asked leave to make his 

 report. Permission was granted, and the report was read as follows : 



The members of your committee find about thirty plants exhibited by Dar- 

 win Smith, of Flint. They are well grown, clean and thrifty specimens, and 

 indicate that the owner loves his plants and knows how to take care of them. 

 The specimens consist of eleven varieties of coleus, including the old and 

 valuable Verschafcldtii, and a more recent one, the ornatus. There are eight 

 varieties of geranium, including Happy Thought, Distinction, Asa Gray, Mrs. 

 Pollock, and Kose. There are two begonias, one Farfugium grande, one 

 Tradescantia, two Sedunis, one Oxalis, one Vinca major, two Selaginellas, two 

 Chinese primroses. 



Considering the inclement weather and the risk in bringing out specimens 

 at this time of year, Mr. Smith deserves great credit for his neat exhibit of 

 plants. Tiicy are tastefully arranged on the front of the speaker's platform. 



There is a single bouquet on the president's table, and it deserves the more 

 attention, when we consider how it came there. It consists of a pink Camellia, 

 a few flowers of Carnations and Ageratums, with leaves of rose geranium aud 

 arbor vitae. 



Fanny Healy, of South Haven, the little daughter of Mr. Healy, of our 

 executive committee, of her own accord selected the 8|>ecimen3 and made the 



