KEPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 245 



GRAND RIVER VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



REPORTED BY W. N. COOK, SECRETARY. 



The interest in the meetings of the society has been fairly kept up during 

 the year. 



At the December meeting an interesting paper was read, and discussion 

 followed on the cultivation of northern sugar cane, and the manufacture of 

 sugar and syrup from the same, showing that the experiments in different parts 

 of the northern States was a success, and that good sugar and syrup was just 

 as sure to follow intelligent work in that industry as the miller is to make good 

 flour from No. 1 wheat, with the best of facilities for manufacture, so that it 

 only rests with the farmers to commence the growing of the cane and make a 

 start on the most profitable and promising business of the country. 



At the February meeting a fine display of fruits and flowers was shown. 

 This was brought out by the offer of small premiums, and a large meeting and 

 an interesting one was the result, bringing out an attendance of sixty ladies 

 and gentlemen. 



At the April meeting it was decided to bold a strawberry and flower exhibit 

 in June, with the design of awakening an interest among amateur growers of 

 fruits, flowers, and vegetables. Under the management of the committee, con- 

 sisting of Messrs. Bradfield, Garfield, Rowe, and the Secretary the exhibition 

 came ofl" at Leppig's Hall on the 27ih and 28th of June. A very fine display 

 was made in all the departments. The attendance was not what we could 

 wish, yet on the last evening was quite good, and the society feel that this, its 

 first effort in this direction, was a success, and that these exhibitions wil! 

 result in tne attainment of the object for which they are given. 



At the May meeting Mr. Wm. N. Rowe read a paper on the subject of 

 "Annuals, and How to Grow Them," which is appended to this report. A 

 paper prepared by Mrs. Alice R. Garfield for this meeting, is also appended to 

 this report. 



The society also made through its committee, Elwood Graham and Benj. F. 

 De Cou, an exhibition of fruit at the State Pair in Jackson. The entry was 

 made lor the largest and best collection of fruits, the display consisting of ninety 

 varieties of apples, twenty varieties of peaches, two plates each of ten varieties 

 of pears, twelve varieties of grapes, four varieties of plums, four varieties of 

 crabs and one of quinces. Upon this exhibit the first premium of $50 was 

 awarded. The committee also entered two collections of fruit at the fair of the 

 West Michigan Agricultural and Industrial Association, and secured first 

 premium on each. 



The memberships for the year numbered nineteen. 



At the annual election of officers the following members were elected to fill 

 positions : 



Fresidenl — Charles W. Garfield. 



Vice President — Albert J. Hovey 



Secretary — Robert D. Graham. 



Treasurer — Samuel L. Fuller. 



