REPORT OF MEETINGS. ool 



precursors of order and neatness, and paid a liigli encomium to the Agricultural 

 College and the work it is doing. He referred to the employment and comfort 

 accruing from the keeping of a neat and beautiful lawn, and gave many apt 

 hints concerning landscape gardening. 



Mr. H. Dale Adams continued the discussion at some length. 



A communication from the Monroe County Agricultural Society, inviting 

 the society to hold the June meeting at that place, w^as referred to the Execu- 

 tive Committee. The invitation was accepted. 



Considerable discussion was had on the appearance of the blight in the 

 apple tree. Keports from various parts of the State show that the disease is 

 progressing. Considerable fear was expressed that it might be as serious as 

 the dreaded pear blight. No explanation could be given of the cause of the 

 disease. It attacks both old and young trees, slow and fast growers. 



Adjourned. 



WEDNESDAY— EVENING SESSION. 



Xotwithsfcanding the severity of the weather the hall was well filled by a 

 highly intelligent audience, and the exercises were of an exceedingly brilliant 

 character. 



After music, President Abbot, of the agricultural college, delivered an elo- 

 quent address upon the necessity of agricultural education. He portrayed the 

 need of education among farmers, and urged the claims of the agricultural 

 college upon the farming community, which he says has been conducted at a 

 less exjoense than any other similar institution in the country. 



Hon. Eowland E. Trowbridge of Lansing read an interesting and valuable 

 paper on organization among farmers. 



Hon. Wm. L. Webber of East Saginaw then read a most interesting descrip- 

 tion and historical paper on " The Destiny of Northern Michigan," when at a 

 late hour, the meeting adjourned. 



THIRD DAY— THURSDAY. 



The first exercise was the report of the committee on apples. They report 

 sixty-five varieties on exhibition, and many duplicates. Among the principal 

 exhibitors were : 



The Ingham county farmers' club, 31 varieties. 



South Haven society, 18 varieties of apples, and sp8cim?ns of cherries and 

 other dried fruits. 



H. Dale Adams, Galesburg, 26 varieties; A. L. Sturgis, Okemos, 10; II. S. 

 Merrell, Lansing, 20 ; J. Satterlee, Greenville, 9 ; J. Lee, Leelanaw county, 10. 



D. B. Johnson of Lansing, H. P. Cherry of Johnston, Dr. Owen of Adrian, 

 and E. Buell of Kalamazoo, were prominent exhibitors. 



Grapes, well preserved, by George W. Brown, Lansing. 



The quantity of fruit on display was not very large, owing to the severe cold 

 weather, which prevented many from bringing specimens. No exhibitors were 

 present from Grand Rapids or the Grand Traverse region, the fruits from these 



