GENERAL HISTORY. 83 



Mr. Stearns, of Kalamazoo, opened a discussion upon the question, ''How 

 Far Shall We Go in the Attempt to Create a Demand for Fruit of the Best 

 Quality?" 



Mr. Stearns thought it safer to go slow in such an effort, but thought favor- 

 ably of working in that direction. 



Mr. M. B. Williams, of Saugatuck, thought little could be effected in that 

 direction. 



The discussion called out a great variety of opinion, generally, however, 

 in the direction of at least a gradual improvement in the quality of fruits to 

 be grown for market. 



Mr. High, of Middle Bass, said: " We grow grapes for the money, but, at 

 the same time, quality is somewhat looked to. The Catawba is our best 

 grape, the Delaware next. The Concord is third-rate." 



A discussion followed on "'Injurious Insects." The canker-worm, cur- 

 culio, grape vine flea beetle, and the snowy tree cricket, each came under 

 discussion, together with the various modes adopted for their destruction. 



" Pomology in the State Capitol," was the first subject of Wednesday even- 

 ing's discassion. 



The present state of the case was quite fully stated by the secretary. 



Mr. Knapp and Mr. Pringle, of Jackson, spoke favorably of the arrange- 

 ments at the capitol of Georgia for this purpose, and VV. H. Eagan stated 

 that agriculture and horticulture had a home and ample rooms in their new 

 capitol. 



A committee, consisting of W. K. Gibson, T. T. Lyon, F. M. Holloway, 

 and J. P. Thompson was appointed to devise a plan and report. 



The next subject on the programme was " Esthetics in Horticulture," on 

 which subject a scholarly and interesting paper was read by VV. K. Gibson, 

 of Jackson. 



On Thursday morning the committee on a plan in the State Capitol, re- 

 ported as follows: "That they have had the matter under consideration, 

 and recommend that the society accept the room assigned, as the best that 

 can be had at present, and that the whole matter be referred to the executive 

 board, with the suggestion that they jointly, with the State Board of Agri- 

 culture and the State Agricultural Society, institute such measures as they 

 shall deem best calculated to secure to the agriculture and horticulture of 

 the State a position in this respect commensurate with their real importance 

 relatively to other interests of the State." 



The committee on fruits exhibited report a large display of fruits, includ- 

 ing strawberries, currants, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, apples (grown 

 in 1877). Also a display of dried fruits by the Williams process. 



The committee on plants and flowers report very fine exhibits, in all thirty 

 plants, from five exhibitors; also bouquets from two others. 



Resolutions offered by F. M. Holloway were adopted proposing fuller con- 

 cert of action between this and local societies. 



R. Haigh, jr., of South Haven, then read a paper on "Ornamentation of 

 City and Village Lots." 



The discussion which followed was highly complimentary to the essay. 



An invitation to hold the next annual meeting at Paw Paw was accepted. 



After the adoption of appropriate resolutions the society adjourned. 



The annual union fair of the State Agricultural and Pomological Societies 

 was held at Detroit on September 16th to 30th, 1878. 



