128 GENERAL HISTORY. 



The yellows is gradually working northward. A few "sporadic cases" are 

 reported as far north as Ottawa and Kent counties. 



The State Fair of the Agricultural and Horticultural Societies was held at 

 Jackson, on September ISth to 23d, 1882. 



The number of entries made with the secretary of the State Horticultural 

 Society was twelve hundred. The fruits occupied twenty eight hundred 

 plates, covering two thousand feet of shelving. 



For the purpose of securing a display of taste in ornamentation at this fair, 

 the side walls of Horticultural Hall were divided into eight sections, and two 

 sets of premiums were offered for the best specimens of ornamentation 

 thereon. The exhibits failed to meet the expectations of the committee, and 

 but two of the lower premiums were awarded. 



At a session of the executive board held at Jackson, September 21st, 1883, 

 it was determined to defer the next publication of the State Catalogue of 

 Fruits till 1884, and to issue the revision of the same biennially thereafter. 



A diploma was ordered to be issued to James Vick for a large and beautiful 

 exhibit of flowers at the State fair. 



C. W. Garfield submitted his report as delegate to the American Forestry 

 Congress. 



The annual meeting of the Michigan Horticultural Society was held at 

 Flint on December 4th to 6th, 1882, with a large attendance from abroad, 

 and a superior exhibit of fruits and plants. The society was welcomed by 

 Mayor Atwood, and a response was made by the president. 



The first evening was opened with a lecture by Professor Cook on the sub- 

 ject of "Evolution." 



On the following morning the session was opened by an essay from "W. C. 

 Hutchinson, of Rogersville, entitled, "Bees in their Relation to Horticul- 

 ture." urging their beneficial action in the cross fertilization of the flowers 

 of many of our fruits, and denying that they attack grapes unless the skins 

 have been previously pierced by another cause. 



The discussion following this essay covered the subject of crT)ss fertilization. 



A. L. Aldrich followed giving the "Horticultural Statistics of Genese 

 County," for which see the history of that county. 



A discussion of the paper was then had ; after which 



C. T. Rosenkrans read an essay giving the " Best Five Varieties of Market 

 Apples for Eastern Michigan." The five varieties named were Red Canada, 

 Baldwin, Northern Spy, Rhode Island Greening, and Golden Russet. 



This was followed by the annual message of the president, containing vari- 

 ous suggestions with respect to future operations of the society. 



The afternoon session was opened by a discussion on the topic of "Increas- 

 ing the Profits of Fru't Growing," which aroused a long and animated dis- 

 cussion, covering jellies, jams, canning, drying, refrigerating, honest and 

 dislionest packing, good cultivation, wise selection of varieties, etc. 



The "Wager Peach" was the subject of an essay by H. W. Davis, of 

 Lapeer, which was commended for its hardiness and its ability to reproduce 

 itself from the pit. It was said to have been introduced into Ontario county, 

 New York, over sixty years ago (prior to 1819). 



A. S. Partridge, of Flushing, followed with a paper on "Stone Fruits for 

 Genesee County," giving lists of cherries, plums and peaches which had been 

 found to succeed in Genesee county. 



T. T. Lyon followed with a paper on the "Vine, its History, Species and 

 Hardiness, Propagation, Pruning, Training, etc." 



