542 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



On motion the following were appointed to attend the meeting of the "West- 

 ern Xew York Ilorticultural Society, at Rochester, Jannary 10th: J. C. 

 Holmes, Detroit; T. T. Lyon, South Haven ; C. P. Avery, Old Mission ; H. P. 

 Hanford, Bristol, Ind. ; A. S. Dyckman, South Haven. 



Prof. J. C. Holmes presented an invitation from the State Poultry Society 

 to join with them in the January Exhibition at Detroit, but it was not thought 

 advisable to accept the offer. 



Mr. H. D. Adams, of Kalamazoo, in behalf of the orchard committee, read 

 a report of the travels of that committee to the different parts of the State the 

 past season, and what they saw and thought of each orchard. 



Prof. Beal, in behalf of the people of Lansing and vicinity, invited the so- 

 ciety to hold its February meeting ia that city, and the invitation was 

 accepted. 



An amendment to the constitution was proposed by Mr. Bradfield, providing 

 that every oflBcer of the society, including vice-presidents, must be a member 

 of the society. Laid over for future action under the rule. 



ADDRESS BY MR. CHIiDS. 



The Hon. J. Webster Childs, of Ypsilanti, addressed the society at length on 

 *'The Agricultural Wants of Michigan." It was interesting and attentively 

 listened to throughout. He spoke of the necessity of a more general and thor- 

 ough education of farmers in matters relating to their business. Fathers are 

 too apt to educate those sons Avho enter mercantile pursuits or professions, 

 and leave those who are to carry on the farm the mere rudiments of an educa- 

 tion. From this it has come to pass that a system of caste has sprung up and 

 farmers are supposed to occupy a lower social plane. They have the remedy 

 in their own hands. 



Eecurring to political topics, he urged attendance upon the primary meet- 

 ings as the surest way by which farmers could secure a fuller representation 

 in the halls of legislation. All they ask is an equal chance with all other 

 classes of the community, and that chance by the help of God they meant to 

 have. It may be all right that out of a Congress of 300 members 248 should 

 be lawyers. Some people think so, but the farmers are beginning to doubt it. 

 They are beginning to wonder whether they might not spare five or six law- 

 yers, and still have enough left. [Applause.] That the farmers have not had 

 equal representation is their own fault. They are beginning to realize that 

 great fact, and beginning to organize, and thank God 2,000,000 farmers are 

 now marching shoulder to shoulder and keeping step to the music of equal 

 and exact justice to all. 



Mr. T. T. Lyon read an elaborate paper on " Plums and Plum Culture," and 

 Mr. H. S. Clubb on " The Characteristics of the East Shore of Lake Michigan." 



RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED. 



Mr. E. F. Johnstone, in behalf of the committee on resolutions, reported the 

 following, which were adopted: 



Whereas, The Michigan State Pomological Society was instituted for the purpose of pro- 

 moting and disseminating a more correct knowledge of fruit-growing, for correcting fruit 

 nomenclature, and to add to and develop the rich resources which Michigan possesses in her 

 soil and climate, and her geographical position in connection with pomology ; and 



Wheeeas, In pursuance of these purposes it has been found that amongst the duties of 

 this society there were none more useful or more thoroughly adapted to work into the minds 

 of the fruit-growers and all interested in pomology and the other branches of horticultural 

 Bcience, a practical and extended knowledge of fruits and their nomenclature, of arbori- 



