124 GENERAL HISTORY. 



Resolved, That, in the opinion of the Michigan State Horticultural Society, the gi-ounds 

 about a country school-house ought to be at least one acre in extent. 



After further discussion of the whole subject of ornamenting school 

 grounds, the resolution of Professor Beal was unanimously adopted. 



"Horticulture In and About the House" was the subject of a paper by 

 Mrs. Mary N. Allen, in which are set forth the increased attractions with 

 which fruit culture is wont to surround the home. 



B. W. Steere next gave a paper upon " Horticulture on the Highway," full 

 of suggestions respecting the beneficial influence of trees along the highway, 

 as well as of hints as to the increased values thus communicated to adjacent 

 property. 



The use of fruit trees for roadside planting was considerably discussed, 

 but with an apparent preponderance of opinio u against their use for such 

 purpose. 



The afternoon session was opened by prayer and music, after which the 

 subject of " Honest Packing" was discussed. 



E. H. Scott opened tho discussion with the remark that honest packing is 

 the key to permanent success in market fruit culture. 



Porter Beal remarked, " There seems to be several grades of honesty. I 

 find the same grade of men who yesterday or this foren on advocated 'enliv- 

 ening' the packages by means of colored netting, this afternoon urging that 

 there be greater honesty in packing. It seems that a grade of honesty that 

 is good for one set may be pretty tough for another. 



T. T. Lyon made some remarks, illustrated upon the blackboard, on ''The 

 Knife, When and Where to Use it," stating that nurserymen, with the 

 present low price of trees, are compelled to grow them so closely that proper 

 branching becomes impossible. For this reason the planter, who is wise, will 

 purchase trees of not more than one or two years' growth. His ideal for trees 

 was a central shoot with not more than four or five side branches. 



The pruning of peach trees was also discussed, including the proper way to 

 avoid or prevent the formation of crotches, as well as what is known as the 

 shortening in process. 



"Advertising at Fairs" was the subject of some remarks favorable to the 

 practice both as to old and new varieties. 



Hill's Chili peach was named as the best market peach on account of its 

 productiveness and hardiness. It was objected to by others as excessively 

 productive and therefore inclined to be small and the tree short-lived. 



The evening session was opened by A. D. Healy with a paper entitled 

 "Education and Horticulture," in which was urged the great importance of 

 an association of the two. 



Secretary Garfield was called on to speak of the subject of "Horticulture in 

 Schools" and took occasion to speak of the difficulties encountered and of 

 some of the steps that had, so far, proved most effective toward their solu- 

 tion. 



"Horticulture in the Home" was the subject of a short paper by Dr. Wood- 

 land Owen, of Adrian. 



R. T. McNaughton, of Jackson, supplied the next paper on the subject of 

 "Horticulture as a Part of Industrial Education," in which the writer urges 

 the value of an acquaintance with horticulture even to those who may not 

 purpose to make it their chief pursuit. 



The subject of the closing discussion was "Associations in Educating Hor- 



