GENERAL HISTORY. 119 



tors," in which the various arsenical compounds, with the objections to their 

 use were considered, as were also several vegetable substances, alkalies, etc. 



The Tuesday evening session opened with a paper by R. Haigh, jr., of 

 South Haven, on " Rural Improvement," in which some severe, though mer- 

 ited blows were dealt at the condition of the streets, walks, parks and ceme- 

 tery of the village and its vicinity, and the desirableness of a rural improve- 

 ment society suggested. 



''Improvement of School Grounds " was next considered in an address by 

 Professor Ross, of the South Haven school, much in the view of Mr. Haigh's 

 paper, and containing valuable suggestions as to needed impr>)vements of the 

 school grounds of the village. 



A short but interesting discussion followed, at the close of which Mr. 

 Mann, the chairman, took occasion to congratulate the people of South Haven 

 on the admirable preparations made for the reception and comfort of the 

 horticultural society. 



The Wednesday morning session opened with the president's annual ad- 

 dress, giving a statement of the operations of the past year and suggestions 

 with reference to the future. 



The secretary's annual statement followed, giving a careful history of the 

 past year's doings in his department, together with a statement of disburse- 

 ments during the year. 



The report of the treasurer showed a balance in his hands to the credit of 

 the general fund of $812.54. 



The amount of the life membership fund in the hands of the treasurer was 

 $1,310, besides $350 yet in the hands of Ex-treasurer Adams, making the total 

 of this fund 11,660. 



The officers elected for the ensuing year were : 



President — T. T. Lyon, of South Haven. 



Secretary — Charles W. Garfield, Grand Rapids. 



Treasurer — S. M. Pearsall, Grand Rapids. 



Memlers of Executive Board — A. D. Healy, South Haven; E. H. Scott, 

 Ann Arbor. 



Also the usual number of vice-presidents. 



The discussions of the afternoon opened with an address by Charles J. 

 Monroe, giving some statistics of fruit shipped from South Haven during the 

 past season. Of peaches there were shipped 235,040 baskets; apples, 18,114 

 barrels ; grapes, 33,000 baskets; berries, 8,450 cases. 



Amount paid through the South Haven bank $135,012 99 



Estimated amount received through other mediums 20,000 00 



Total value of fruit shipped. $155,012 99 



Mr. Williams, one of the yellows commissioners, had examined 71,353 peach 

 trees in the vicinity of South Haven, during the past season, and the loss by 

 yellows had bei'n only 7| per cent. In 1879 the loss from that disease had 

 been 4| per cent, and in 1880, 12^ per cent. 



The discussion was followed by a short paper from G. H. LaFleur, of Alle- 

 gan, on "Commercial Fruit Growing," which proceeded upon the idea that 

 the apple is the most profitable fruit so far as ultimate results are concerned, 

 and that Michigan has advantages which placcher in the van so far as com- 

 mercial fruit culture is concerned. 



