44 • GENERAL HISTORY. 



nuts, bamboo and specimens of the utensils used by the islanders. A large 

 variety of fruit packages was also exhibited. Among other things a fig tree 

 was shown bearing its second crop of this year's fruit. 



The several committees found abundant material for their reports, but 

 since they contained nothing unusual they are omitted. 



A seedling crab apple, originated by John Byers, and exhibited by A. A. 

 Olds was thought worthy of a name and was christened Byer's Beauty. 



An essay on the "Habits and J'ood of the Birds of this Region " was read 

 by L. H. Bailey, jr., of South Haven. 



This was followed by an essay on the " Effects of Fruit upon the Human 

 Economy." 



On assembling on Friday morning, H. E. Bidwell reported that news had 

 just arrived to the effect that the first prize for dried fruit had been awarded 

 to the Williams Evaporating Company, of South Haven, by the Vienna ex- 

 position. 



J. M. Sterling, of Monroe, exhibited specimens of an aquatic plant called 

 lotus, indigenous in the shallow waters at the mouth of the Raisin, below 

 Monroe, and which was by some persons supposed to be the sacred lotus of 

 Egypt, but which is, in fact, the nelumbiuvi luteum or water chinquapin, a 

 rather rare plant, which occurs also in La Plaisance bay, and in Sandusky 

 bay, in Ohio, as well as in the Schuylkill river, near Philadelphia, and a few 

 other places at the east. 



Hon. John Whittlesey, of St. Joseph, was chosen to represent the State at 

 a meeting of the commissioners of horticulture to confer respecting the 

 proper representation of this interest at the approaching Ct-ntennial exposi- 

 tion. 



Whereupon the society adjourned. 



The fourth annual fair of the State Pomological Society was held at Grand 

 Rapids jointly with that of the State Agricultural Society, on September 

 15th to l9th, 1873. 



Visitors at Pomojogical Hall were very generally surprised at the great 

 variety and high quality of the fruits exhibited. The society's rules have, 

 since the last year's fair, been so modified as to discourage the extensive 

 duplication of showy but indifferent varieties, and also to encourage correct 

 nomenclature by exhibitors, instead of relying on the naming of their fruits 

 by the committee on nomenclature. 



The first premium for a county collection of fruits was awarded to Van 

 Buren county, the second to Grand Traverse, and the third to Wayne, for the 

 reason that the first two contained peaches and plums, while these were not 

 included in the last, although it was far superior so far as apples alone were 

 concerned. This circumstance led Judge Ramsdell, chairman, of the award- 

 ing committee to recommend that thereafter the offers be so arranged that 

 apples shall compete with apples, pears with pears, grapes with grapes, 

 peaches with peaches, etc. 



In all, thirty-four hundred plates of fruit were exhibited, while the plants 

 and ilowers occupied the central portion of the hall. 



The State Pomological Society held its October meeting at Traverse City, 

 on the 8th to 10th of that month, on the invitation of the Grand Traverse 

 Union Agricultural Society and on the occasion of its annual fair. 



Fruit was the prominent feature of the exhibition, and so late a date for 

 the fair was necessary to its display in its most perfect condition. 



