EAELY HISTORY OF HORTICULTURE. 347 



from the fruit and cleaning them was brought up for discussion ; also the treat- 

 ment and culture of stock seedlings. Messrs. Blois, Steers, Moody, Wilson, 

 Beebe, Dunning, Foote, and Holmes took part in the discussion. 



The association then discussed the question of pruning in the nursery. 



At the evening session on the 9th of January, the examination of fruits, 

 and the discussion of their respective merits, occupied the evening. Messrs. 

 Cook, Moody, Holmes, Gibson, and Blois were the principal speakers. 



On the 10th of January, at the morning session, the pear and the grape 

 questions were discussed by Messrs. Moody, Knapp, Beebe, and Holmes. 



The association then proceeded to the election of officers for the ensuing 

 year with the following result. 



President — A. C. Hubbard, Detroit. 



Vice President — J. T. Blois, Jonesville. 



Secretary — W. R. Gibson, Jackson. 



The meeting then adjourned to meet at Jackson on the 2d of September. 



On the 2d of September, 1856, the association met at Jackson. The Pres- 

 ident, Mr. Hubbard being absent, the chair was occupied by the Vice President, 

 J. T. Blois, of Jonesville. 



The following gentlemen were elected members: S. B. Noble, James De Puy, 

 T. E. Gidley, H. T. Buck, P. B. Loomis, and S. Gidley. 



A large collection of fruit was exhibited at this meeting. 



The principal questions discussed during the session were, the quality and 

 the cultivation of several varieties of apples, pears, peaches, strawberries, and 

 grapes. 



These discussions were participated in by Messrs. Foote, T. E. Gridley, Wil- 

 son, Knapp, Bort, Noble, Blois, and Steers. 



Another question discussed was, the frauds that had been practiced upon 

 western nurserymen and amateurs by eastern vendors of trees. 



The Society then adjourned, and this was the last meeting this Society ever 

 held. 



The Nurserymen and Fruit Growers' Association having been winter-killed, 

 or from some other cause having died out, there was a call from Clinton 

 county, Kalamazoo county, and other places for a meeting to be held at Jack- 

 son, for the purpose of organizing a State Horticultural Society. 



In September, 1857, pursuant to this call, a meeting was held at Jackson, to 

 form a State Horticultural Society. The meeting was called to order by C. K. 

 Gibson, of Jackson. T. T. Lyon, of Plymouth, was elected chairman, and V. 

 B. Merwin, of Moscow, Secretary. 



A constitution and by-laws were adopted. The association was organized as 

 the Michigan State Horticultural Society. 



The following officers were elected, viz. : 



President — H. G. Wells, of Kalamazoo. 



Secretary — R. P. Johnstone, of Detroit. 



Treasurer — P. B. Loomis, of Jackson. 



Directors — Hiram Walker, Detroit; D. K. Underwood, Adrian, John T. 

 Blois, Jonesville; Linus Cone, Troy; G. W. Nelson, Grand Rapids; Wm. Bort, 

 Niles. 



After the reading of letters from persons who were unable to be present, the 

 Society adjourned. 



The first annual meeting of this Society was held, under very favorable aus- 

 pices, at Kalamazoo, on the 7th of January, 1858. 



There was a large attendance and a good exhibition of fruit. An extract 



