3^6 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



inany localities, where the peach crop has mainly failed, small fruits, grapes, 

 apples, and pears have been borne in abundance, and the fruit has sold at high 

 prices, while also the reputation of the peach belt has been well sustained. 



Instead of discouragement we find everywhere a new determination to meet 

 all difficulties with the unfailing resources of American genius and industry. 



And so onr Michigan pomology comes out of this wintry cloud into the sun- 

 light of assured success. 



Our Society has done much important work during the year — having held 

 successful meetings at Lansing in January, Battle Creek in February, Grand 

 Rapids in March, Ada in May, Kalamazoo in June, South Haven iu September, 

 and Traverse City in October, besides tiie State Fair at Grand Rapids, which 

 in view of previous exhibitions, it is sufficient to say, was more than creditable 

 to the State. 



The various committees have made valuable reports : 



The committee on "diseases of the peach tree," composed of Professor J. C. 

 Holmes, Judge H. G. Wells, Hon. S. 0. Knapp, and Dr. R. C. Kedzie, as also 

 the orchard committee, Prof. "W. J. Beal of the Agricultural College, C. W. 

 Garfield, W. H. Gregory, N. Chilson, and C. N. Merriman, have vis'ted various 

 parts of tlie State, and their observations furnish interesting additions to our 

 fund of information. 



We are also much indebted to Professors A. J. Cook and R. C. Kedzie, of the 

 Michigan Agricultural College, in the departments of Entomology, Ornithology, 

 Chemistry and Meteorology, and to Prof. W. K. Kedzie, now of the Kansas 

 Agriculural College, for services as meteorologist. 



It would be pleasant to acknowledge all contributions of addresses, essays, 

 music, and fruits were it possible to compress so much into the space to which 

 we are entitled. 



W^e must, however, devote one sentence to the press, who have bestowed so 

 many upon us. The Detroit Free Press, Tribune, and Post, and the Chicago 

 Journal, Inter-Ocean, and Tribune are deserving of special mention for having 

 reported our meetings. Mr. Johnstone, of the Michigan Farmer, has given 

 the columns of his paper free to the publication of all our articles, and to C. 

 W. Garfield the Society is under new obligations for his reports. 



These gratuitous services have been bestowed not more freely than the gen- 

 erous hospitality with which we have been received without exception. Their 

 reward can only be fully realized in long years of grateful memory. 



Our finances, with all the liberality of friends, and in spite of every effort, 

 are in a condition quite unsatisfactory. After paying past indebtedness and 

 expenses of the State Fair, we have not been able to pay all the premiums of 

 the present year. 



We congratulate the Society and the country upon the prospect that the 

 storm-cloud of war will be diverted from our shores. And who Avould not 

 hope that old Spain, who thus promptly repairs the insult to our flag, fully 

 enfranchised, having guaranteed to suffering Cuba the benefit; of her republican 

 laws, instead of guns and death, may bring to our centennial exposition those 

 fairest tokens of international union, the best resuUs of her productive indus- 

 try ? And would it not be the highest achievement to maintain our supremacy 

 in these? 



Ours is a perpetual work in which new necessities will constantly arise, and 

 old ones, like the routine of the household, be ever repeated ; while the pos- 

 sibilities are as wide and various as the objects of use and beauty in nature. 



