GENERAL HISTORY. 91 



Professor Whitney reported resolutions looking to the offering of premiums 

 for improvement of country school grounds and urging locul societies to give 

 more attention to improving public grounds, school yards, and roadsides, 

 which resolutions were adopted. 



On Wednesday evening the report of George Parmelee as delegate to the 

 annual meetings of the Indiana and Illinois Horticultural Societies, giving 

 some account of their manner of conducting their meetings, was read and 

 accepted. 



Mr. Thompson inquired what other apples come early into bearing like 

 Wagener. 



Replies were that Wagener heads the list, followed by Keswick Codlin, 

 Maidi n's Blush, Early Harvest, Oldenburg, Jonathan, Sweet Bough and Pri- 

 mate. 



President Lyon asked, if all apples save one were to be stricken from our 

 lists, which one would we save for Michigan? 



In reply, Baldwin, Northern Spy, Wagener and Rhode Island Greening 

 were named by different persons. 



Judge Lawton inquired what precaution should be taken while pruning 

 peach trees to avoid disseminating yellows. 



Passing the implement through the fla,me of an alcohol lamp after finish- 

 ing each tree, and also dipping it in crude carbolic acid were mentioned. 



*' Caa Township and District Fruit Shows be Made Profitable?" was thfr 

 last topic of the eyening, the general verdict being in their favor. 



The Thursday morning session was opened by 0. N. Merriman with an 

 address on "Mistakes in Selecting Orchard Sites." After the address of 

 Mr. Merriman the discussion widened greatly, taking in drainage, aspect, 

 elevation and shelter. 



A committee had been appointed at the close of Mr. Eugene Davenport's 

 paper to report a list of vege cables for the farm garden, who now reported 

 such list. 



The last topic for discussion was "Legislation for Fruit Interests." 



The subject was considerably discussed and a committee appointed to con- 

 fer with the committee of the Le ii^lature respecting the taking of orchard 

 and fruit statistics in connection with the census. 



On Thursday evening the report of the committee on fruits exhibited 

 enumerate three hundred plates of apples made up of sixty-three varieties ; 

 also four of grapes and a collection of canned fruit. 



Following the committee's report a paper was read by President Lyon on 

 "The Labors and Needs of tne Society," in which the work done and that 

 awaiting ace -mplishment are contrasted with the means for their perform- 

 ance, and reasons given why horticulture, especially in Michigan, should be 

 regarded as an interest of State concern, and entitled to a commensurate 

 position among such interests. 



George Taylor followed with a paper on "Forestry," supplementary to the 

 one on that subject read by him a the recent annual meeting. 



A resolution was [tassed recommending the offering of premiums for wind- 

 breaks and advising the same on the part of L 'Cal societies. 



Resolutions were also passed asking an increase of the number of volumes 

 of the society's transactions. 



After the adoption of suitable resolutions of thanks the meeting adjourned. 



The summer meeting occurred at Muskegon on June 17th to 19th, lb79^ 

 with a full attendance from abroad. 



