GENERAL HISTORY. Ill 



red is the most popular color, hence Red Canada, Winesap, Willow Twig, 

 Jonathan, Baldwin, and even Ben Davis is preferred to a better apple of a 

 poor, dull, or rusty color. 



Peaches, pears, plums, cherries and the small fruits generally were rather 

 rapidly treated, the strawberry receiving the larger share of attention. Tv/enty- 

 three varieties of this fruit were named and classified, but all were considered 

 as of little value as compared with Triomphe de Gand and Wilson, the latter 

 being the one preferred. 



The next topic was ''Fruit Packages and Legislation Concerning Them," 

 -and the discussion was opened by a paper from W. A. Brown, of Stevensville. 

 This somewhat lengthy pii4)er was subsequently stated to be the majority re- 

 port of a committee of the Berrien County Horticultural Society. 



This was followed by a minority report of members of the same commit- 

 tee, read by Robert C. Thayer, of Benton Harbor, entitled " Honesty in Hor- 

 ticulture.' ' 



The difficulty of solving the problem seems to have been the inability of 

 •those concerned in the effort to secure legislation to agree among themselves. 



The evening session was devoted to a discussion of " Fruit Packages and 

 their Sizes." 



Mr. Comings addressed the meeting at some length and closed by offering 

 a series of preambles and resolutions, favoring a general and united move- 

 ment looking to the adoption of uniform sizes of packages, each marked with 

 its actual capacity, also the publishing of the names of package manufactur- 

 ers who will engage to supply packages so marked. 



The preambles and resolutions were adopted, whereupon a member moved 

 that the members of the Berrien County Horticultural Society, before ship- 

 ping any more short packages, solemnly consider the action of this evening. 



Mr. Tate further suggested that members of the State society might well 

 'be included. 



On Thursday morning, after the reading of letters received by the secretary, 

 a resolution was adopted requesting the secretary to correspond with the new 

 Commissioner of Agriculture, asking, on behalf of this society, that Profes- 

 sor Comstock be retained as government entomologist. 



Resolved, That this society endorse the main features of the bill presented in our 

 legislature by Representative Garfield, entitled "A bill to provide for marking the ca- 

 pacity on fruit packages," and that the president do now appoint a committee of three, 

 whose duty it shall be to do all in their power toward securing the passage of this bill 

 or its equivalent, by ordinance, in the city of Chicago, and by enactment in the State 

 Legislatures of Illinois and Michigan. 



The president appointed as such committee, S. H. Comings, A. R. Now- 

 len and Josej^h Lannin. 



Yellows legislation was the next topic discussed. 



Secretary Garfield, being a member of the legislature, was called on to 

 state the condition of affairs, and gave a history of the action upon the sub- 

 ject, and also read a copy of the law recently enacted. 



A somewhat prolonged discussion ensued but nothing new was elicited. 



A history of fruit growing at Benton Harbor was given by Mr. Morton. 



T. T. Lyon closed the morning exercises with some account of the newer 

 strawberries. 



At the opening of the afternoon session the president called attention to 



