KEPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 239 



The meeting of August 13th was devoted to discussing the need of a more 

 liberal appropriation from our State to the State Horticultural Society, which 

 would enable it to prosecute its work with more efficiency. It was thought 

 some action should be taken by our local societies, and a petition sent to our 

 Legislature asking for help to carry on a work of vital importance to our 

 State. At this meeting a committee was appointed to see to collecting fruit 

 for an exhibit at the State fair, and of making other necessary arrangements 

 for it. 



The meeting of September 16th was given up wholly to selecting and 

 putting in readiness ibr shipment the fruit gathered and brought in by the 

 committee and other members of the society. Mr. W. A. Brovvrn, of Stevens- 

 ville, was api)oiuted to take charge of the fruit and represent the society at 

 Jackson, and it was largely owing to Mr. Brown's persistent and untiring 

 efforts and skill, that the society succeeded in securing the first premium of 

 $20 for the best and largest collection of market fruits. The following week 

 Mr. Brown took the collection to Grand Eapids, where he succeeded in carry- 

 ing off one or two first premiums. 



The meeting of October 28th was thinly attended, it being a busy time, and 

 the weather threatening rain through the early part of the day. Mr. Brown 

 gave an account of his trip to Jackson and a glimpse of what was to be seen 

 and learned by a visit to the State fair; his report was supplemented by 

 remarks from others who attended the fair. 



Perhaps after reading this somewhat rambling report, one might be tempted 

 to ask, What good have these meetings done? Has anything been accomplished 

 for Berrien county? In this, as in any other direction, it is easier to ask than 

 to answer questions, still we think the question can be satisfactorily answered 

 much more fully than time or space v/ill admit of here. These societies and 

 their meetings are, and have been, one of the potent agencies in placing our 

 State in the front rank of fruit producing States of our union. These societies 

 are educators in many directions; they make their members better thinkers, 

 writers, and speakers ; in short, better men. They cultivate mentally and 

 socially, as well as teach how to cultivate more intelligently and profitably. 

 They should unite their members in concert of action, to resist the ravages of 

 insect enemies, the rapacity of transportation corporations, or of commission 

 merchants ; whoever or whatever would rob them of their rightful rewards. 

 We trust Berrien County Horticultural Society has but just entered upon what 

 the future may prove to be, a long and useful career not only to its individual 

 members but to our whole county and State. 



The bright prospects of early spring were blasted by successive frosts and 

 cold storms, and the early season was full of gloomy forebodings, but with the 

 bright and genial sunshine of August and September many doubts were dis- 

 pelled and a much better harvest than was feared rewarded the husbandman. 

 Apples were perhaps the nearest to a total failure ever known in this section, 

 and wei-e of a very poor quality. Grapes suffered severely from the late frosts 

 and again still later from mildew, and were probably not to exceed one- 

 fourth to one-third of a crop. Indeed the season just closed is the first in 

 many years in which the Concord grape has failed of being highly remunerat- 

 ive. Pears were also a light crop and small and inferior in appearance. Ber- 

 ries were plenty with the exception of strawberries, which were thinned by 

 frost. Blackberries were the largest crop probably ever grown, as high as 

 4,000 bushels being shipped in a single day. There are many fine vineyards 



