DEPARTMENT REPORTS 37 



the meetings, the results have been quite satisfactory, and whenever it 

 will be possible to hold meetings of this kind in connection with the 

 regular meetings of some organized society, the plan can undoubtedly 

 be continued with success. Messrs. Gladden, Dean and Gunscn, of this 

 department, spent from three to four weeks each in Institute work. Mr. 

 Guuson and myself attended the Kound-up at St. Louis, and took part in 

 the meeting. 



This department made an exhibit of fruits and vegetables at the State 

 Fair at Grand Rapids, and included in the exhibit a fine display of fruit 

 from the Station at South Haven. The exhibit was in charge of Mr. Dean, 

 who with myself aided in awarding the prizes for the fruit department of 

 the fair. 



HORTICULTURAL MEETINGS. 



In December of last year I attended the annual meeting of the State 

 Horticultural Society at Grand Eapids. The meeting brought out a large 

 attendance and was particularly favored by the presence of a number of 

 well known horticulturists from a distance, among them being J. H. Hale, 

 of Connecticut, M. A. Thayer of Wisconsin, Professor Slingerland of Cor- 

 nell University and Prof. John Craig of Ottawa, Canada. 



In June I attended the summer meeting of the same society at Grand 

 Haven and of the West Michigan Fruit Growers at Holland. 



DISTRIBUTION OF FLOWER SEEDS TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 



With the hope of exciting an interest in the decoration of school 

 grounds in rural districts, on the part of patrons, as well as teachers and 

 pupils, arrangements were made in the spring of 1896 to distribute col- 

 lections of tiower seeds to such districts as asked for them, and agreed 

 to report results as well as to give them good care. The number of 

 applicants numbered more than five hundred, and to each of the parties 

 who applied within the time limit set, a collection of twenty-five varieties 

 was mailed, with a circular giving directions for preparing the ground, 

 and planting and caring for the seeds. Although each of the five hundred 

 and twenty-five teachers, and a similar number of directors, signed a paper 

 agreeing to have a report made at the close of the season, less than thirty 

 reports were received, and few of them came until after November first, 

 the date at which they were promised. 



Of the reports submitted several spoke of partial or entire failures, due 

 to causes beyond the control of the teacher or pupils, but most of them 

 gave fairly favorable reports. 



When the seeds were sent out, in order to increase the interest, five 

 collections of hardy shrubs and evergreens were offered to the schools 

 making the best reports. These were awarded as follows: District No. 

 8, Bedford, Geo. Zeigler and Celia Rood, teachers; District No. 2, South 

 Arm, C. H. Dewey, teacher; District No. 2, Sparta, Mrs. N. L. Vanzant, 

 teacher; District No. 2, Boyne Valley, A. E. Farmer, teacher; District No. 

 3, Springport, John McClelland, teacher. 



We append four of the reports, and would gladly print others did space 

 permit. In District No. 2, Sparta, some half dozen reports were received 



