GENERAL HISTORY. 137 



The meeting of the American Pomological Society closed on Friday, and, 

 .as the Michigan State fair was to commence on the following Monday, it 

 was necessary that Messrs. Garfield and Lyon should return to Detroit with- 

 out delay, which they did, reaching that city early on Sunday morning. 



The annual exhibition of the State Horticultural Society for the year 1883 

 ■occurred at Detroit in connection with the fair of the State Agricultural 

 Society on September 17tli to 21st. 



Although the indications of early spring promised a fine crop of fruit the 

 remainder of the season had been exceedingly unfavorable, so much so that 

 the early estimates, placing the fruit crop as high as eighty per cent, had 

 dropped to fifteen or twenty-five per cent, and very many anticipated the 

 failure of the annual horticultural display in consequence. 



The secretary in reporting the exhibition says: "Up to September 1st 

 there were five entries of county and society collections. At the opening of 

 the fair letters came from two of these saying that in going about to secure 

 the fruit to fill the entry it was not to be found ; the other entries not having 

 been heard from, it was problematical whether we should have anything or 

 not." 



*'The gentlemen of the Horticultural Society were really very much dis- 

 couraged on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. After making a great 

 effort to secure an exhibit, and getting promises from a large number that 

 nothing should deter them from coming, it seemed, as if we were going to be 

 defeated by a dearth of material." 



"Tuesday afternoon the fruit began to come in, however, in considerable 

 abundance, and to the astonishment of everybody, by Wednesday morning, at 

 9 o'clock, every available space in the hall was filled. The arrangement was 

 admirable. The flowers, fruits, plants, designs, and canned goods were so 

 placed as to give variety to every part of the hall. The transformation was 

 wonderful and most gratifying to all concerned ; everybody felt like saying, 

 *A11 honor to the horticulturists of Michigan,' who never make a poor show." 



After noticing the general exhibit, a correspondent of the Country Gen- 

 tleman says: "There was one exhibit which attracted general attention, pos- 

 sibly from the novelty of the label attached to it. This was a large bouquet 

 of annuals, grown in the yard of a district school, under the direction of 

 Miss M. A. Nye, of Avon, Oakland county. Her example is commended to 

 teachers ever where." 



A very flattering notice of this exhibit also appeared in the Eural New 

 Yorker. 



One of the most valuable educational exhibits consisted of four cases of 

 beneficial and injurious insects, mounted, labeled and exhibited by Clarence 

 M. Weed, of Lansing, who was in attendance to give information respecting 

 them when desired. 



The State Horticultural Society's annual meeting convened at Eaton Eap- 

 ids, upon the invitation of the Eaton County Horticultural Society, on De- 

 cember 3d to 5th, 1883. 



After a welcoming address by Mr. J. H. Corbin, of Eaton Rapids, and a 

 response by the president, reports were received from local societies, after 

 which a discussion was had on the question, " What Shall We Do with Our 

 Old Orchards?" led by Wm. P. Green, president of the Eaton County Society. 



On Tuesday morning a half hour was given to the answering of questions 

 ■from the question box. 



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