80 GENERAL HISTORY. 



hand picking, assorting into grades, placing at once in barrels and keepings 

 at a uniform temperature and wrapping each fruit in paper. 



During the ensuing discussion Mr. Hanford, of Bristol, Indiana, recom- 

 mended the Cope preserving house for the keeping of winter fruit. 



"Cross Breeding of Fruits" was then considered by Professor Beal, who gave 

 a description of the process of artificial fertilization, with the precautions 

 requisite to insure success. He also quoted a series of opinions respecting 

 the amount of influence likely to be produced by each parent upon the char- 

 acter of the offspring, and referred to the opinions of Darwin, as given in a 

 recently published work. 



Some discussion followed the reading of the paper, when the following 

 resolution was adopted: — 



Resolved, That it is the choice of tlie members of this meeting that the executive 

 board of the State Pomological Society offer suitable premiums for new seedling or hy- 

 brid fruits, suited to general and profitable cultivation in this State, after they have 

 been fully proved to the satisfaction of a competent committee. 



M. B. Williams then gave an essay in reply to the question, "How can we 

 Maintain the Fertility of our Orchards?" in which, after barnyard manure, 

 he recommended lime, ashes, salt and leaf mould. 



Others suggested the application of clay, the plowing under of rye. 



A long discussion arose respecting the sweating of fruits after gathering. 



G. H. LaFleur read an essay on " General Orcharding," detailing many of 

 the mishaps and mistakes into which illy informed orchardists are liable to 

 be led, and pointing out the better way. 



J. E. Day, of Romeo, followed with an essay on " What shall we do with 

 our Old and Injured Apple Orchards?" This was followed by a lively dis- 

 cussion, the outcome of all being that it would be necessary to determine each 

 case upon its own merits. 



The report of the committee on fruits exhibited was then received. After 

 mentioning the various exhibits and exhibitors, including eight varieties of 

 grapes from S. B. Peck, of Muskegon, kept by the process described in his 

 paper on that subject. Mr. A. G. Gulley, the junior member of the commit- 

 tee, goes on to say: " Our chairman (E. Buel), who is a little modest, at least 

 he says so, did not wish to speak of his Red Canadas, so I do it for him. He 

 always produces some much larger and finer than any of the rest of us can 

 show. How he does it I do uot know, but I do not wonder he puts it above 

 all other winter apples." 



The committee on flowers highly complimented Mr. H. Dewey, who was the 

 only exhibitor of plants and flowers. 



S. W. Fowler, of Manistee, then put in a plea for fruit, in which he referred 

 to our State motto as a prophecy of the future, of which those who originally 

 adopted it had little conception. He also treated the subject dietetically and 

 medicinally. 



A discussion arose on the question, ''In what Season Shall wc Plant our 

 Fruit Trees in our Climate?" which ended as it began, with a division of 

 opinion. 



The usual complimentary resolutions were adopted, together with one 

 thanking the secretary for the prompt issue of the volume of Transactions, 

 also one expressing the gratitude of the society to Edwy C. Reid for his efliorts 

 to render the convention pleasant to all concerned. 



An essay by Mrs. S. Smith, of Walker, Kent county, was read by the sec- 



