REPORT OF MEETINGS. 53^ 



"The Codling Moth" was the title of the next lecture, by Prof. A. J. Coo'k, 

 and it was a subject in which all apple-growers now take a very deep interest. 



Both these lectures were very interesting, being illustrated on the black- 

 board, and containing much information of practical importance. 



The display of fruit is said to have been one of tlie liuest in the history of 

 the society. There were 320 plates of choice fruit on exhibition. Grand 

 Traverse is especially well represented, and the high color of the fruit grown 

 there is very noticeable. 



The display of flowers was not large, but still added very much to the appear- 

 ance of the room. Among the exhibitors were Mrs. F. Hall and E. Le Valley, 

 Ionia, and J. Suttle, Grand Rapids. 



BOTAlSriCAL NOTES. 



One of the most valuable and learned papers read at the meeting was by Mr. 

 Charles F. Wheeler, of Hubbardston, on "Eandom Botanical notes. Historical 

 and Otherwise." After some remarks on the progress of the science in general, 

 he gave a sketch of the work done in investigating and cataloguing the plants 

 of Michigan. The first contribution of note was made by Drs. Douglas Hough- 

 ton and Ziua Pitcher to a " Synopsis of the Flora of the Western States," by 

 Dr. John Riddell, of Ohio, published in 1835. In 1837, an act authorizing a 

 geological survey of the State was passed, and approved by Gov. Mason, and 

 the survey w^as reorganized by a second act in 1838. At this time Dr. John 

 Wright had charge of the botanical department, Dr. Abram Sager, of Ann Ar- 

 bor, being State Geologist. About 30 years ago Prof. Geo. P. Williams, the first 

 resident professor of the University at Ann Arbor, made a good collection of 

 native plants at Pontiac, embracing about 100 orders. This collection is now 

 in the possession of Miss Mary H. Clark, of Ann Arbor, and has been increased 

 to about 2,000 species. 



The next considerable contribution to the catalogue was made by W. D. 

 Whitney, of the Lake Survey, published in '' Whitney and Fosters Eeports " 

 in 1850 and 1851. The next list in the order of time was that of Prof. X. H. 

 Winchell in 1860, based on Wright's previous list, the notes of Miss Clark, of 

 Ann Arbor, who, in 1850, contributed to the Washtenaw County Whig a "De- 

 scription of the Plants Indigenous to Ann Arbor and Vicinity," which appeared 

 in 16 consecutive numbers of that journal. Since the catalogue of Prof. N. H. 

 Winchell but little has been done except by individual botanists. Distin- 

 guished among these is a former resident of Ionia county, Mr. J. B. Steere, who 

 has been traveling abroad for the last four years, making a collection in natural 

 history for the museum of the State University. He is now in the Phillipine 

 Islands. 



Mr. Wheeler gave a somewhat minute account of the topography and botany 

 of Portland and vicinity, Ionia county, which is situated on the southern bor- 

 der of the pine region, and is, he thinks, representative of a large section of the 

 central part of the State. Within this region he had collected over 700 species 

 of plants, of which 650 are flowering plants, including grasses and sedges, 

 belonging to 340 genera and 94 orders. Of the lower orders the ferns yield 27 

 species belonging to 12 genera, scouring rushes and club mosses furnishing 8 

 species and 3 orders. There have been identified 25 species of mosses and liver- 

 worts. Only 78 species reach the dignity of trees. Of shrubs and under 

 shrubs there are 72 species. Fifty-four species of plants have been introduced 

 with civilization, mostly domestic plants or carpet-baggers, common weeds and 

 garden pests. The struggle between the native and introduced plants is an 



