94 GENERAL HISTORY. 



another State to conduct the examinations as chairman of awarding commit- 

 tees, so far as time sufficed to do so. H. T. Brooks, of New York, consented 

 to attend the exhibition for this purpose, and the result proved eminently 

 satisfactory. His report say-^, '' The Detroit exhibition was every way credit- 

 able to the society under whoso auspices it was made, and to the fruitgrowers 

 of the Peninsular State. The chairman of this committee, residing in the 

 State of New York, and familiar with its fruit exhibitions, has seldom or 

 never seen it excelled." 



Under the former practice of both the x\gricultural and the Pomological 

 Societies, the expense of drayage and breakage of plates was always a con- 

 siderable item, to obviate which, in 1877, the latter society purchased five 

 thousand paper plates. These, however, proved far from satisfactory, and 

 were disposed of. After careful inquiry and examination, four thousand 

 japanned tin plates were purchased which have now been in use two years, giv- 

 ing eminent satisfaction. 



At a session of the executive board held at Detroit during the State fair 

 the secri'tary was instructed to send greeting to the American Pomological 

 Society then in session at Rochester, New York. 



Also, on motion of E. F. Guild, the required notice was given of the pur- 

 pose to propose at the next regular meeting that the name of the society be 

 changed from Pomological to Horticultural. 



The representative of the James Vick seed establishment offered bouquets 

 of grasses for sale in the hall of the State Horticultural Society contrary to 

 its rules, and upon the attempt to enforce such rules, obtained written per- 

 mission to do so from the general superintendent of the State Agricultural 

 Society. By direction of the executive board the secretary entered a vigorous 

 protest against such act. 



President Lyon was not in attendance at the State fair, he having been 

 delegated to represent the society at the meeting of the American Pomological 

 Society, which occurred during the same week at R )chester, New York, 

 where this State was represented by T. T. Lyon, accompanied by Professor 

 W. J. Beal, Israel Pennington, J. P. Thompson, E. 13radfield and J. B. 

 Dumont. 



Owing to the non-attendance of President Wilder, the meeting was called 

 to order by Dr. John A. Warder, of Ohio, who introduced Patrick Barry, of 

 New York, who, as first vice-president, assumed the chair. 



At the election of officers W. J. Beal, of Michigan, was chosen member of 

 the executive committee. He also read a paper on "The Peculiarities of 

 Flowers in Apples," with references to their use as aids in the identification of 

 varieties. 



The committees reported on exhibition 859 plates of apples, 517 of pears, 

 16 of peaches, 409 of grapes, and 37 of miscellaneous fruits. 



Among the awards was a Wilder medal to the Michigan State Pomological 

 Society; but, in consideration of the fact that nearly the entire exhibit was 

 contributed by the Grand River Valley Horticultural Society, including the 

 beautiful grap^ exhibit of E. Bradficld, of Ada, the Michigan delegates 

 requested that the medal be given to that society. 



An invitation was extended to the society to hold its session for 1881 in 

 Michigan ; but in compliance with the desire of President Wilder it was 

 determined tu hold it at Boston. 



The annual meeting of the State Pomological Society was held at Allegan, 



