GENERAL HISTORY. 139^ 



President — T. T. Lyon, South Haven. 



Secretary — Charles W. Garfield, Grand Rapids. 



Treasurer — S. M. Pearsall, Grand Rapids. 



Members of Executive Board — (to fill vacancy) E. P. Guild, East Saginaw; 

 (full term) W. K. Gibson, Jackson ; H. W. Davis, Lapeer. 



A life membership was voted to A. A. Crozier for efficient services as re- 

 porter of the society's proceedings. 



The requisite notice having been given at the society's last meeting, the 

 constitution was amended to provide for the election, by the executive board, 

 of a first vice president. 



The question of deciding upon the place for the meeting of the American 

 Pomological Society, in 1885, was discussed and referred to the executive 

 board. 



J. N . Stearns opened the discussion upon the subject of " Celery Growing 

 and Culture of Asparagus," and the cultivation of celery at Kalamazoo, 

 Ypsilanti and other points was fully discussed, together with the j)eculiar 

 soils l)est suited to this crop. 



"Strawberries" — varieties and mulching — were discussed for a few minutes 

 at the close of the session. 



On Wednesday evening. 



The committee on fruits reported a very creditable display of fruits from 

 the Eaton county society. 



The committee on flowers speak highly of a large bouquet of flowers from 

 Fanny and Myrtle Uealy, of South Haven, little girls of five and eight years; 

 also a bouquet of dried grasses. 



The committee on implements commend the tree-digger shown by L. G. 

 Bragg & Co. ; also a reversible barrow cultivator, an apple parer, and the 

 label holder designed by Secretary Garfield. 



The closing session, on Wednesday evening, was devoted to a social gather- 

 ing, with sentiments and responses from various persons, affording a very en- 

 joyable occasion, enlivened by occasional music. 



Besides the delegates from Michigan branch societies there were present 

 President Wm. Saunders, of the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association ; J. S. 

 Woodward, E. Ashley Smith, A. J. Rice, S. D. Willard and Charles A. Green, 

 of the Western New York Horticultural Society ; and H. P. Hanford, of 

 Bristol, Indiana. 



After the report of the committee on resolutions, the following supple- 

 mentary resolution was submitted by E. H. Scott, of Ann Arbor: — 



Resolved, That as officers and members of the State Horticultural Society and citizens 

 of Eaton county, we appreciate the courtesy extended to our society by the delegates 

 from New York, Ontario and Indiana in attending our convention, and participating so 

 ably in our discussions, and we cordially invite them to come again. 



The report of the committee, together with this addition, was adopted by 

 a rising vote, and thereupon the society adjourned. 



During the year 1883 Secretary Garfield prepared a "Primer of Horticult- 

 ure" as a leading feature of the transactions of that year, consisting of plain, 

 simple directions by experienced and successful cultivators, for the planting, 

 cultivation and management of apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, quinces, 

 currants and gooseberries, raspberries and blackberries, strawberries, vege- 

 tables, nut bearing trees, the flower garden, the conservatory, ornamental 



