GENERAL HISTORY. 93 



usefulness of the latter, and of the horticultural possibilities of the former. 



A short discussion was had on "Lawn Making." 



Professor Beal said the requisites for a satisfactory lawn are deep, properly 

 graded soil, and frequent mowing. Sow thickly with June grass only. Top 

 dress every year. 



"Testing varieties" was the next subject discussed. 



Professor Beal mentioned several essential particulars requisite to render 

 tests of practical value, mentioning some of the difficulties encountered at 

 the Agricultural College in the prosecution of this work. 



The subject was further discussed by Messrs. Grarfield, GuUey, Johnstone 

 and Lilly. 



On Thursday morning an invitation was accepted from Mayor Holt to 

 visit his museum, which was accepted for eleven o'clock. 



A letter was read from C. D. Lawton, of Lawton, speaking of black-cap 

 culture in that vicinity and of the recent appearance there of the rust, and 

 inquiring if there is a known remedy aside from digging and burning aifected 

 plants. The letter also gives information respecting grafting and pruning; 

 also hints respecting varieties of desirable apples, concluding with com- 

 mendations of the newly issued State fruit catalogue 



The committee on fruits report a large exhibit of strawberries, also a num- 

 ber of exhibits of apples, yet in good condition for so late in the season. 

 Peach, plum and currant branches were also shown, loaded with green fruit. 



The committee on new varieties of strawberries reported three alleged 

 seedlings as worthy of trial, which were named respectively, Shirts, Marvin 

 and Windsor — the first two from the names of the originators, and the last 

 from the name of the town in which it is alleged to have originated. This 

 last proves so perfectly identical, both in fruit and plant, with the Cham- 

 pion, one of its alleged parents, as to afford occasion for doubt whether a 

 mistake has not been made. 



The committee on plants and flowers report exhibits from C. A. Dutton, of 

 Holland, Mrs. Charles Culver, of Laketon, C. L. Whitney, of Muskegon, 

 Thomas Wilde, of Berlin, and Henry Baker, of Muskegon. 



It was resolved to invite the American Pomological Society to hold its next 

 meeting (1881) in Michigan, and the president was appointed a delegate to its 

 approaching meeting at Rochester, New York. Adjourned. 



At a meeting of the executive board, held at Kalamazoo, on June 27th, 1879, 

 the secretary was authorized to arrange with C. F. Wheeler, of Hubbardston, 

 for the introduction into the volume of the society's transactions of some 

 account of the native and introduced flora of our State, which will be found 

 in the volume for 1880. 



With the hope that adequate room for the purpose, in the new State capitol, 

 would be accorded to the society, W. K. Gibson, of Jackson, was deputed to 

 open correspondence with reference to the securing of specimens illustrating 

 the conditiun of horticulture in other countries as well as our own. 



The unsettled account with the former treasurer, H. Dale Adams, was 

 placed in the hands of W. K. Gibson, who was authorized t© take steps to 

 secure a prompt settlement. 



The annual union fair of the State Agricultural and Pomological Societies 

 for 1879 was held at Detroit on the 15th to 19th of September. 



The entries in the horticultural department exceeded fifteen hundred. 



At this exhibition the experiment was tried of securing an expert from 



