EEPOKTS FKOM COUNTY SOCIETIES. 58U- 



INGHAM COUNTY. 



The Farmers' Club of Mason, Ingham county, take a large interest in mat- 

 ters connected with the raising of fruits, and the following abstract of their- 

 work during the year is given, witli supplementary papers. 



OFFICERS. 



President — A. F. Wood, Mason. 



Vice Presidents — James Fuller, Vevay; P. O. address Mason. Jolin Gearhart,. 

 Wheatfield; P. O. address Mason. C. C. Marsh, Alaiedon; P. O. address Mason. 



Becording Secretary — L. H. Ives. 



Corresponding Secretary — A. M. Cliapin. 



Treasurer — I). C. Smith. 



Board of Directors — H. Bristol, H. J. Knight, one year ; G. "VV. Wilson, James L. Ful- 

 ler, two years ; W. Asa Rowe, Willis Horton, three years. 



Essay Committee — L. H. Ives, Otis Fuller, W. Asa Kowe. 



secretary's report. 



The year which has just closed — the centennial year — has been one of the 

 most eventful in the history of our nation. The great world's exhibition, which 

 was for so many months the center of attraction, will doubtless leave a perma*- 

 neut and beneficial influence on all branches of science and industry in tliis^ 

 country, and I believe that the interests of this club will be gi-eatly advanced 

 by it. Many of our members returned from Philadelphia with enlarged views- 

 of things in general, and with a determination to go forward and keep pace 

 with the age. 



The centennial exhibition, and the excitement of a presidential campaign, 

 have conspired to reduce the number of our weekly meetings during the sum- 

 mer and fall months. However, it seems to me, if I understand the signs, the 

 pulsations of the club to-day indicate a healthy action of all its vital functionSi 



A call from the Secretary, after a few weeks interruption, has never failed 

 to meet with a hearty response by the members of the association. 



The greater portion of what has been accomplished during the year was done- 

 during the winter and early spring time. 



The following are the titles of some of the essays read during the year, aside' 

 from those which are appended in full : 



A. M. Chapin— " Garden Seeds." 



Otis Fuller— "Our Schools and our Tax-payers." 



C. C. Marsh—" Care of Farm Horses." 



T. H. Lyon— "Farm Stock." 



Wm. M. Webb — " Preservation of Forest Trees." 



Alex. Bush — "Our Public Highways." 



O. M. Barnes — "Centennial Address on the Occasion of Tree Planting." 



C. L. Ingersoll, State Agricultural College — " Improved Breeds of Swine." 



W. A. Eowe — "Injurious Insects." 



W. S. Branch— "Dislike of Farming." 



L. H. Ives — "Distribution of Seeds," etc. 



A. M. Chapiu — "Insurance." 



Among the temporal improvements make during the year, I notice the large 

 black-board, the material of which was presented by Mr. Wm. Webb, of Au.- 

 relius. Samples of the various Avoods found in this vicinity, collected and 

 presented by members of the club, besides a small collection of rare specimens- 

 presented by N. A. Dunning. Several volumes have been added to the library, 

 mostly public documents. A liberal distribution of seeds was made last springs 



