38 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



offered a premium of $10 to any of its members who should set out the largest 

 number of ornamental trees in the highway, and attain the best results with 

 them. 



At the meeting of April 10th, W. A. Smith read a paper on Insect Enemies. 

 In it he made a strong plea for the birds, and also spoke in terms of condemna- 

 tion of the common house cat, as a foe to those by whose mercy it was tol- 

 erated. The codling moth could be exterminated, or so decreased as to do 

 little damage, by concert of action in putting bands on the trees and destroying 

 the worms Avhich collect under them. The pasturing of sheep or hogs in the 

 orchard was recommended as helps in exterminating this pest. The most 

 effectual way of dealing with the peach borer was digging them out with the 

 knife. The curculio could be jarred upon sheets and killed, and plums, 

 peaches, and cherries saved from its ravages. At this meeting a committee 

 was appointed to see if Arbor Day could not be observed by the society in 

 planting trees along some of our streets, school-yards, and parks. The plan, 

 so far as anything being done by the society as a body, failed, although many 

 members observed the day to quite an extent, in planting trees along their own 

 premises, and perhaps more trees were planted along the highway last spring 

 than in any previous year. 



At the meeting of Jun6 10th, J. P. Thresher read a paper on the " Hum- 

 bugs," to which horticulturists are often subjected. The paper was spicy and 

 very much enjoyed, although the honest fruit grower was often pictured as the 

 victim of sharp and designing agents. It was generally conceded that there 

 are many evils attending the packing and marketing of our fruits, which 

 should be remedied, among them the great diversity of size, and style of pack- 

 age, the packing and shipping of so much inferior fruit faced up with good, 

 were things which should be corrected. At this meeting several were appointed 

 as delegates to the June meeting of the State society, v/hich was to be held at 

 Pentwater. 



The meeting of July 8th was held in Conkey's opera hall, and was largely 

 attended. The time was occupied by W. A. Smith, who gave a report of the 

 State society's meeting at Pentwater. Following this report was a short dis- 

 cussion as to whether Berrien County Horticultural Society should compete at 

 the State fair for some of the premiums offered for exhibits of fruit. No 

 action was taken in the matter at this meeting. A committee was appointed 

 to see the several town boards, and urge them to ajipoint suitable persons as 

 yellows commissioners, who should insist on the digging out and burning of 

 all diseased trees. One of the pleasing things of the meeting was the render- 

 ing of a poem, by the poet of our society, Mr. U. B. Webster. It was a parody 

 on the "old oaken bucket," and was prepared expressly for a strawberry festival 

 which was to have been given June 29th. There were several plates of fruit 

 on exhibition, one especially fine, of the Reder seedling raspberry. Mr. S. 

 Cook exhibited one of his seedling cherries, which seemed to promise well for a 

 late cherry. It is a cross between the Yellow Spanish and Black Tartarian; of 

 good size, very firm, in color dark red, quality medium; healthy, strong 

 growth, and productive. Mr. Cook has named it Michigan beaut}'. The best 

 part of this entertainment, and one in which all could take part, was enjoyed 

 in Grange hall, to which the society and many of its friends repaired, and 

 found a bountiful sui)ply of strawberries, ice cream, and cake in waiting. Dr. 

 Hurd, of Chicago, and Kev. McElwee, of Benton Harbor, added to the festivi- 

 ties of the hour, some happy remarks. 



