REPORTS OF LOCAL SOCIETIES. 357 



Next followed a selection of a variety of pears. The varieties named 

 were Flemish Beauty, Bartlett, Anjou, Clapp, Angouleme, and Sheldon. 

 Of peaches, Alexander, Waterloo, Hale's Early, Lewis, Snow's Orange, 

 Early Crawford, Stump, and Hill's Chili. 



W. N. Cook recommended the following sorts of cherry: Early War- 

 ren and Yellow Duchess. 



In grapes, H. H. Hayes named Moore's Early, Niagara, Worden, 

 Brighton, Delaware, Salem, and Agawam. 



Of strawberries. Crescent, Sharpless, Jessie, and Miner were recom- 

 mended. 



Blackberries, Henry Smith named the Taylor and Snyder. 



Thomas Wilde gave the names of Cuthbert and Ohio in raspberries. 



MARCH MEETING. 



The March meeting of the society was held at the Grandville grange 

 hall. The morning session opened with a discussion on fruit prospects, 

 the outcome of which confirmed the fears expressed at the February meet- 

 ing, of a light crop of peaches. 



The next business taken up was packages for small fruits. 



Rev. George Henry Dole delivered an address upon " The origin and 

 operation of forces in nature," and the secretary of the society read a 

 paper on " Economy and comfort of the kitchen garden." 



THE APRIL MEETING. 



was held at the floral establishment of Henry Smith on West Bridge 

 street. President Garfield opened the meeting by calling attention to 

 the recently published bulletins from the Agricultural College: No. 57, 

 experiments with vegetables; No. 58, insecticides, and No. 8, devoted to 

 the comparative merits of steam or hot water heating for greenhouses. 

 One hour was consumed in the morning session in discussing evergreens 

 and ornamental shrubs. At the close of this interesting and valuable 

 topic, Mr. Homer Hayes ask'Sd permission to exhibit some branches of 

 peach trees. A little better feeling in regard to the peach crop was 

 noticed, as the buds were not all killed, and it was argued that a light 

 crop of well developed fruit would be better than if the buds were all alive. 

 But Mr. Pearce was as despondent as ever and predicted an extremely 

 light crop. Mr. Garfield said the Oceana county men were quite jubi- 

 lant, and the value of fruit lands in consequence of the fine condition of 

 the trees had risen. W. N. Cook was in favor of covering peach trees with 

 straw; this could be done at ten cents per tree. The members were get- 

 ting so interested in pomology and the best methods to pursue in order to 

 be reasonably successful, that time was forgotten and Mr. Garfield called 

 a halt, stating that it was half-past twelve and time for recess. 



During the hour and a half given for luncheon, more than one hundred 

 persons found the large greenhouses a pleasant place to promenade, and 

 the oft-repeated expressions of surprise and delight must have been grati- 

 fying to Mr. Smith. 



At two o'clock, President Garfield again called the meeting to order, 

 and " Orchard spraying " occupied the attention of the society for some 

 time. 



" Help indoors and out" was the chief topic of the day, and the mem- 



