-60 GENERAL HISTORY. 



A letter from E. Bidleman, of Coldwater, invited the fiooiotj to Ik.M its 

 ne:jt annual meeting at that city. The invitation was refonel to the Jauo 

 meeting of the society. • 



Governor J. J. Bagley, W. L. Wehber. E'.lwnrd r.railfioM a-d T. T. I.yon 

 were constituted a committee to endeavor i(» se( nw for tlie society the Hs.^loii- 

 nient of suitable rooms in tlio new Capitol, sui.ablo for a liijru'y, ntncjcuin, 

 and meetings of the society. 



Mr. Lyon presented a schedule of tlie arraiigomi n^s so far made for tlio 

 pomological exhibit at the Centennial, indicating a pujuos,^ to maintuin such 

 exhibit during the continuance of the exposition; Ijiit Fptciifyuig cvrtuiti 

 periods for perishable articles when likely to be in their best (;oa^..I^io^ for 

 such purpose. 



The opening fruit display in May would 'ic held in iln> (oiilral tiiii-t|>t of 

 the Agricultural building; but an annex wiJ bo p ovi Vd l.>r ino 'ScpicinUir 

 display. 



The arrangements for the Centennial ';^ccuj>icd tlie mo>t of th- fonn -om. 

 The plan of Professor Cook was finally ado'itfc^ g?-<ia]> utr the firii U-s i . sev- 

 eral divisions. Apples, the growth i-f IbTo. wen- a^sijiiii-il to N. Cliil-on, «>f 

 Battle Creek; small fruits t*» A. 0. Wincnorter, ot 8c. Jo>«^p'j; pliirji-! to .1. 

 G. Ramsdell, of Traverse City; apples ai.d • tluT Jate f5umiuer ahJ ii'tfuiiiii 

 fruits to H. Dale Adams, of G desbu gh; jx^ur?! and q lincvS to I. E. ll^'ou- 

 fritz, of Monroe, and graj>es lo E. Brndtii-M, of Ada. 



These gentlemen, with the president btui (<e<Mvti ry. xrere constituted a com- 

 mittee in general charge of the colk-ction, sJiipni-'ni and exhibition of horii- 

 cultural products. 



The president submitted the follu.ving :is a -ul..st!tuLe of article one of 

 the constitution of the society: — 



The name of the society shall bo •'The IMichi-can State Horticultural 

 Society," and its objects shall be the dev-:;!.) »iii. ni <•!' an jido'iUJitH apnrecia- 

 tion of the peculiar adaptation of the soiis .-fid o iinate *»( the .State of 

 Michigan to the pursuit of horticulture in aM its branc n-^, an 1 lli" folJection 

 and dissemination of information bearing Ujio > t'i<- tlieorv' .-md pr;icti«:e of 

 the same, as well as upon the arts and scienc'jdirt ui Iv ..i- nliic tij associated 

 therewith or calculated to improve or elevate the p acii. e tiii'u-i.f. 



After a warm discussion this was adopted n* tue st-u-e oi the oxecu'ive 

 board, and to be submitted to the society for ad"pti.in. 



The evening session was devoted to the revision of the f)ri'tniiiin li-t. Thi», 

 agricultural society having reduced the aj)propiia i ti lor p i-mimn- m Mud 

 -department from 81,500 to Sl,000, the premiums w> n- r .In^.-d a ••'•rdin'^lv. 



In consideration of the labor involved in tli-' m.ik n;^ <-f t;..i| (M.ms and 

 other preparations for the Centennial exhibition, iliu ..j ran^cm. n d lor an 

 orchard committee for 1876 were deferred.. 



A finance and business committee was established, to cons st of tlin'i- jni-tn- 

 bersof the executive board, by whom, or by the chairm.t , ali .m-..uiiiis aw io 

 be audited, and thereafter paid, by the order of the scoietan, diM.Tn ii,ion 

 the treasurer, and countersigned by the president. 



A. J. Cook, \V. L. Webber and N. Chilson were appoint d to act as snch 

 committee. 



On motion of W. L. "Webber, 



Resolved, That no officer of this society shall create any debt against tlie society nor 

 incur any liability against it to an extent greater than ten dollars without the previous 

 approval of the finance committee. 



