GENERAL HISTORY. 129 



During the evening session I. 11. Butterfield, of Port Huron, read a paper 

 on "Tariff Laws Concerning Horticultural Products," giving a pretty full 

 review of the duties on fruits and seeds, with some idea of the kinds and 

 quantities imported. 



"The Structure and Growth of a Tree" was the subject of a paper by Pro- 

 fessor W. J. Beal, of the Agricultural College, which was illustrated by 

 charts and drawing-^. The lecture was exceedingly interesting and instructive 

 and proved the occasion for numerous questions at its close, covering, as it 

 did, the subjects of growth, ripening, seeds, planting, winter protection, etc. 



On Wednesday morning the report of the committee on plants was received 

 and adopted. 



T. T. Lyon, chairman of the committee on new fruits, submitted the com- 

 mittee's report, which was accepted and ordered printed. 



The annual statement of the librarian was next received and was followed 

 by those of the treasurer and secretary, which states the total disbursements 

 of the society for the year 1882 at $1,430.96. 



The following officers were elected for the year 1883 : 



Preside7it — T. T. Lyon, of South Haven. 



Secretary — Charles W. Garfield, of Grand Eapids. 



Treasurer — Sherman M. Pearsall, of Grand Eapids. 



Executive Board — James Satterlee, Lansing; J. N. Stearns, Kalamazoo; 

 to fill vacancy, John Abbott, Lapeer. 



A paper was read by B. Gott, delegate from the Ontario Fruit Growers' 

 Association, entitled, "Fruit Culture and Character Building," which, as 

 implied by its title, dwelt largely upon the happy influence of horticulture in 

 elevating and refining the character of its devotees. 



After a short discussion upon the matter of the distribution of the society's 

 reports, Clarence M. Weed gave an essay on " Injurious Insects, New in Michi- 

 gan," which, with the subsequent discussion, elicited much that was interesting 

 and valuable. 



The committee on resolutions were instructed to embody in their report 

 an appropriate notice of Hon. J. Webster Childs, long a member of the soci- 

 ety, and recently deceased. 



P. C. Dempsey, of Ontario, gave an account of the management of the 

 Ontario Fruit Growers' Association, which includes the publishing of a 

 monthly periodical, together with the propagation and distribution of new 

 and valuable trees and plants, the financial aid of the government being af- 

 forded for these purposes. 



J. C. Sterling spoke of the pleasant relations existing between the State 

 Agricultural and Horticultural Societies, which, he trusted, might long con- 

 tinue. 



" The History of the Potato — its Culture and Varieties," was the subject 

 of the opening paper of the afternoon, read by James Satterlee, of the Agri- 

 cultural College. This was followed by a very full discussion of the subject 

 of the tendency of this esculent to deteriorate under the usual modes of cul- 

 tivation. 



This was followed by a paper from Judge Geo. W. Lawton, of VanBuren 

 county, read in his absence by the secretary, entitled, " Forestry and Orna- 

 mental Planting." He treated the subject from the scientific standpoint, 

 and pleaded for the intervention of law to stay the reckless waste, and to en- 

 courage replanting. 



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